A lethal combination of violence, drugs and “a real disconnection” among young people means Montgomery County must tackle these problems right now, said County Executive Marc Elrich.
A community conversation by the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee Tuesday night on “Supporting Youth in Crisis” detailed the crisis, he said. A similar town hall on “Stop the Violence” is planned at the Germantown Library Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
“There are no quick and easy answers. If there were, we would have done them,” Elrich said Wednesday during his weekly news briefing.
The county has been allocated $6 million during the next 18 years from a legal settlement with the pharmaceutical industry.
Elrich that money will at least better enable the county to help its youth. However, he called the allocation “a pittance” and “trivial” compared to the damage opioids have created. “It is absurd, most unfortunately,” he said.
In this first year, the county will receive $1.6 million which will be used for programs aimed at younger people.
The money will fund substance use and harm prevention programs as well as additional support services for those 21 years and younger, said Dr. Rolando Santiago, chief of behavioral health and crisis services for the county.
During its next allocation, which is expected to be $2.9 million, the county intends to increase its in-patient bed capacity for those dealing with drug and mental health issues. They will be better served if they are in treatment rather than jail, Elrich said, adding that one-third of the inmates in the county system have mental health issues.
The county has needed more treatment beds “for decades,” he said.
Montgomery County continues to hire more mental health professionals “as fast as we can,” but that hasn’t been as successful as he would like, Elrich said.
Future money will be used to support families who have lost loved ones to drugs and a public education campaign, according to Santiago.
Adriane Clutter, county recreation division chief, said her department has been beefing up structured programs for youth, including camps and opportunities to rock climb, skateboard and play soccer and basketball at county recreation centers.
The county also is staging six Summer of Peace evenings throughout the region for young people to get together, listen to music, play games, eat and learn how to avoid drugs and stay in school.
Clutter stressed that structured programs with adult mentors are very effective in reaching young people.
