Grasonville Health Services

09/25/2025

Sharing this because Recovery In Motion is out TODAY from 10–4 giving out free Narcan, education, & some swag💜

Just a remember: Narcan isn’t just for “drug users.” It’s for ANYONE who may ever be around opioids. That includes people with legally prescribed pain meds after surgery, chronic illness, or injury. Accidents happen, meds get mixed up, interactions happen, or someone may take more than they should without realizing it. Having Narcan on hand can be the difference between life & ☠️

I carry it every single day because I’ve seen firsthand how fast an OD can happen & become a fatal OD - how precious those minutes are while waiting for EMS💔

If you can, swing by today, grab a kit, learn how to use it, (it’s very easy!) & be prepared. You never know when you could be the one to save a life. You don’t need a cape to be a superhero!

09/25/2025

A great event happening this Saturday - be sure to come out & bring the whole family💜

09/23/2025

What is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) & Why They Matter?

A CPRS is someone with lived recovery experience who supports others navigating mental health, substance use, or co-occurring behavioral health challenges. They serve as mentors, confidants, advocates, truth-tellers, resource brokers, friends/ally, role models — helping folks set recovery goals, access resources, and build wellness. 

Upcoming CPRS Training Options in Maryland (Virtual / Regional)
• “CPRS Training Course Curriculum” — 46 hours total. Covers Ethical Responsibility, Advocacy, Mentoring/Education, Wellness & Recovery. Offered virtually by Maryland Addiction & Behavioral-Health Professionals Certification Board. 
• UMaryland’s Peer Recovery Specialist Training Center — provides the 46 peer-specific hours required for Maryland CPRS certification. Virtual options or hybrid offerings may be available. 
• Voices of Hope Maryland — Webinars & virtual continuing education opportunities (CEUs) for components of CPRS / maintenance. 

How to Get Started
1. Meet eligibility: usually at least 18 y/o, MD resident / working in MD most of the time, self-identify as in long-term recovery (2+ years) from mental health/substance use or co-occurring issues. 
2. Complete the required training: 46 hours across the domains mentioned. 
3. Submit application & pass the certification process through Maryland’s certifying board (MABPCB). 

09/19/2025

This one hits heavy for me. Addiction doesn’t start “somewhere else” — it starts often in our own homes, schools, & neighborhoods. & the scary part? It’s hitting our youth hard. Here are a few things we can’t ignore:

• 1 in 7 teens report misusing prescription drugs at some point (CDC)
• More than 2,000 kids under 18 ☠️ every year from an opioid F-OD (NIDA)
• Most teens who misuse opioids say they got them from friends or family — often straight from the medicine cabinet (SAMHSA)

This isn’t about scaring anyone — it’s about facing the truth. Our kids deserve better than becoming another statistic. Lock up your meds. Lockboxes/bags are a great & affordable option, which you can order on Amazon. Also: Talking to your kids is always important. Listen without judgment. & remember… no one fights this alone💜

09/18/2025

September is National Recovery Month & QAC Goes Purple here in Queen Anne’s County💜

This month is all about raising awareness, breaking stigma, & showing support for those in recovery and the families who walk alongside them. Recovery looks different for EVERYONE, but one thing is the same— it’s possible.

At Grasonville Health Services, we’re proud to be part of this movement & stand with our community to spread hope & resources. Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone you love, or just learning more — your voice matters.

Let’s light up QAC in purple this month & keep the conversation going💜

09/18/2025

Great options & advice!

You don’t have to be alone in . Find your support network. Find your strength. Explore options that work for YOU at samhsa.gov/recovery

09/17/2025

Free Harm Reduction Training Opportunity - offered in partnership with Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response - MDH!

📅 Thursday, September 18th
⏰ 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
📍 The Education Center, Chestertown, MD

This essential training covers Medetomidine/Xylazine effects, overdose response, wound care, and compassionate treatment approaches, and is open to all healthcare providers, first responders, and community advocates who want to help save lives.

🔗 Register/Join: https://umm.webex.com/umm/j.php?MTID=m5d9a4f6a548426af9eb8dd009b513911

Call 410-778-3300 X 3049 or email bobbiejo.trossbach@umm.edu with questions.

09/16/2025

I came across a Johns Hopkins study that really stood out. It looked at Maryland’s law (HB116) requiring jails to offer all three FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder. For many people behind bars, this has been a lifeline — they can start or continue treatment instead of going through dangerous withdrawals.

But the study also showed the gaps: delays in getting meds, stigma from some staff, and not enough counseling or education. Plus, the law doesn’t cover state prisons, and funding isn’t always there, so care can be inconsistent.

Here at GHS, we’re focused on closing those gaps. We make sure treatment is accessible, respectful, and supported with counseling. Recovery is possible, and no one should be left behind because of red tape or stigma.

If you or someone you love needs help, we’re here💜

— Grasonville Health Services

Open M-F 5:30am-12:30pm
No Appointments Needed💜

Department of Health Policy and Management Maryland’s State-Mandated Opioid Treatment in Jails Helps Recovery, But Implementation Gaps Remain Study highlights incarcerated individuals’ experiences under landmark MOUD law Published May 08, 2025 By Lindsey Culli Drugs Substance Use Disorder A new ...

09/11/2025

We’re in the middle of the 4th wave of the opioid crisis: synthetics & it’s truly changing everything.

First fentanyl replaced he**in. Then xylazine started showing up. Now another veterinary sedative, medetomidine, is being found in the drug supply. It was just reported in Kentucky & has already been detected in Maryland, Philly, Chicago, & Pittsburgh.

Each new “cut” changes the drug landscape for the worse:
• Unpredictable OD’s — Medetomidine doesn’t respond to Narcan the way opioids do.
• New health risks — It can slow the heart rate, cause heavy sedation, & bring its own withdrawal symptoms.
• Harder to treat — The traditional “opioid” drug supply isn’t just opioids anymore, & the medical response has to keep evolving too.

This isn’t about panic: it’s about awareness. People can’t make safer choices if they don’t know what’s really out there.

If you use, or love someone who does:
• Never use alone
• Carry Narcan: it can still reverse the opioids often mixed in
• Know the signs: if Narcan doesn’t work, other drugs like medetomidine may be involved. Always call 911 regardless if you have Narcan, just to be safe.
• Stay connected to harm reduction groups & resources

The 4th wave has made the crisis more complicated and more dangerous, but we can fight back with education, compassion, and community. The more we know, the better we can protect each other.

09/11/2025

I was in 5th grade when it happened. I remember all the teachers rushing us back to our homerooms & turning on the TVs. We sat there together, not really understanding, just watching in shock as everything unfolded. The adults didn’t even know what to say, & you could feel the fear & confusion in the room.

24 years later, that moment is still burned into my memory. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost that day, but the ripples continue: families forever changed, first responders who gave everything, & a country- no, the world- stopped for a moment that carried the weight of it all.

Today isn’t just about looking back: it’s about remembering the strength, unity, & compassion that came after. It’s about honoring those we lost & NEVER letting their memory fade.

We will never forget🇺🇸

-GHS team

09/09/2025

The opioid crisis isn’t just a “somewhere else” problem — it’s a global one, & it deeply affects us here on the Eastern Shore too.

Reading this USA Today piece really hit home. It’s a reminder that addiction knows no borders, no zip codes, no boundaries. Whether you’re in Maryland, across the country, or across the world, families & communities are struggling with the same heartbreak we see right here in our own backyard.

At GHS, we see firsthand how critical access to treatment, support, & harm reduction is. The article talks about how poverty, lack of resources, & overwhelmed health systems make this crisis even worse worldwide & if you look around, you can see shades of that right here in our small towns too.

💡 The good news? There are solutions. Wider access to Naloxone, innovative treatment options, & communities coming together to fight stigma are making a difference. One of the most powerful tools we’ve seen in recovery is the role of peers: people who have walked this journey themselves & now guide others with empathy, hope, & lived experience. Their voices and support can make all the difference in someone’s path to healing.

We also want to take a moment to thank this amazing group of people for ALL the hard work they do alongside us. It truly takes all of us: treatment providers, families, peers, & community organizations, working together to keep our Shore stronger, healthier, & full of hope💜

This isn’t just a health fissue. It’s a human issue. & it’s one we can only fight together💪

Peers are one potential solution to help address the massive gaps in access to substance use and mental health care in the U.S.

09/05/2025

Recovery paint night at the coffee bar - all proceeds will support All Paths!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/recovery-paint-night-coffeebar-tickets-1657917248119