SALISBURY, Md.- The total number of drug overdoses to date this year in Wicomico County is 91, including 21 fatal overdoses.
Those numbers have Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis concerned.
"In terms of overdoses, we have had an escalation of overdoes in Wicomico County, to include fatal overdoses," he said.
Opioid overdoses have increased nationally during the pandemic according to the American Medical Association. People are coming to rely on opioids to cope with the new normal of everyday life.
"A lot of depressed individuals out there. Losing their jobs, losing their businesses and in many cases, losing their homes," says Lewis, "And to battle depression, a lot of people are seeking out old vices and one of those is the addiction of opioids."
The board pictured above in the article, shows the grim reality of substance abuse in Wicomico County. However, the county health department says that there is hope.
Christina Bowie-Simpson, the Wicomico County Opioid Coordinator, says "The Wicomico County health department is offering contact-less Narcan training. We have our Wicomico County safe station. The safe station opened back on August 1st of 2019 - and that safe station is still accessible 24 hours a day seven days a week for anyone seeking recovery services or treatments."
Simpson says that one of the best ways to fight the opioid epidemic is to erase the stigma surrounding addiction.
If you or a loved-one are suffering from drug addiction in Wicomico County, you can seek answers to many questions here or call (410) 742-3784 at any time.