Pax Stands w/ Fight Against Opiate Addictions
Posted for The Patuxent Partnership
It’s been a long time since there has been a Marine General at NAVAIR, BGen Frank Kelley, USMC, Vice Commander, NAVAIR, introduced himself to attendees at a recent Opiate Crisis briefing hosted by The Patuxent Partnership.
Dr. Kathleen O’Brien, CEO of Walden Behavioral Health, Sheriff Tim Cameron, and CAPT Dan Alioto were also in attendance to brief an audience of industry leaders, government employees, and the Southern Maryland community.
Also in attendance was Mr. Richard Tabuteau, Senior Advisor to the Lt. Governor who will be heading a task force to confront the Opiate crisis in the state of Maryland.
BGen Frank Kelley was first to give his comments concerning the Opiate crisis in Southern Maryland. He was shocked to learn about the re-emergence of heroin and the changing face of addiction. “I was in complete denial,” he said. He described himself as a “child of the Sixties” when heroin was a “dirty drug.” He was stunned to learn that heroin was making a comeback, as a drug being used across all ages, genders, economic levels, and heritages across the United States.
NAVAIR, along with the rest of the community, is building an integrated response to the opiate and heroin crises. Dr. Kathleen O’Brien of Walden Behavioral Health, spoke about how important NAVAIR’s support has been in battling the crisis. The Navy, she said, has been proactive in bringing experts onto the base to inform the workforce of the problems with addiction. And to make available information on responses and solutions for personal and workplace problems that grow from addictions.
Following the presentations a Q&A discussion shed light on recent incidents, the impact on family, friends, and coworkers, and more detail on how the Sheriff’s office is going beyond the addict, to the broader community.
