Nearly 1,000 Pounds of Medication Collected at HC DrugFree's Drive-thru

HC DrugFree’s April 27 prescription and over-the-counter medication and sharps (needles, syringes and EpiPens) collection was another huge success. In partnership with the Howard County Police, HC DrugFree's team collected 993 lbs (35 bins) of unwanted and expired medication as well as 20 bins of sharps at our convenient drive-thru collection in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot. 

We thank the Howard County community and our many partners, sponsors, and volunteers. We can't list everyone, but we do need to acknowledge a few organizations and individuals:

  • Maryland Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford for working hard to collect medication and sharps

  • Howard County Executive Calvin Ball for presenting us with a Joint County Executive and County Council Proclamation

  • Other elected officials for joining us

  • The Howard County Police Department and The Drug Enforcement Administration for guarding and transporting the medications

  • The Howard County General Hospital for partnering on the sharps collection

  • The Howard County Health Department, Wegman's, and Morrison Chiropractics for helping to fund this event

  • The Howard County Public School System and PTSAs/PTAs, Howard County's Local Health Improvement Coalition, parent groups, religious organizations and many others for sharing the information throughout the community

  • Wilde Lake Village Board and Wilde Lake businesses/agencies for helping us advertise and supporting our collections

  • Stephano and The Wilde Lake Village Center UPS Store staff for handling our printing needs and your support the days of these semi-annual events and throughout the year

HoCo FilmFest with HC DrugFree Category

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HC DrugFree is proud to announce the 2018-19 HoCo Student Film Festival winners in the HC DrugFree Category:

1st Place Winner: "In the Know about Students Who Vape in Howard County" by Reservoir High School students Claire O'Shaughnessy

2nd Place Winner: "Escape the Vape" by Reservoir High School student Dannah Marcelino

HC DrugFree's Executive Director Honored

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At Winter Growth's Fabulous 40 Anniversary Celebration, HC DrugFree's Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi was one of the community members honored for living with joy and purpose.

Thank you to Winter Growth's team for this special recognition and we wish you a Happy Anniversary.

Life Skills Classes for 9th and 10th Graders

Free Life Skills Classes for 9th and 10th graders at The Barn (Teen Center) in the Oakland Mills Village Center: Close enough for Oakland Mills High School students to walk, the classes begin on April 30. HC DrugFree, in partnership with the Columbia Association Youth and Teen Center, will present Botvin  LifeSkills Training, a 10-week highly interactive, skills-based program designed to promote positive health and personal development. Classes will be held from 3:00-3:45 p.m. Students are expected to attend all 10 classes to be held on: April 30 and May 2, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 (hold May 30 for a class make-up day).

Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LifeSkillsSpring2019 to register your student and/or submit questions for HC DrugFree’s staff.

Teens Get Their Questions Answered on Chat Day

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is offering their annual Chat Day this Thursday, January 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. HC DrugFree is proud to once again be able to provide the Howard County access code.

Students may login at https://www.nidachat.org with the Howard County Access Code 59162, create a user name, and submit their questions to NIDA’s panel of scientific experts. In real-time, an expert will reply.

This national event will take place even if HCPSS is closed for weather challenges, so we encourage classes to participate and staff/parents to offer incentives to students participating from home. All questions/answers can be viewed online and will be shared by HC DrugFree.

Our Howard County students have questions. In a previous year, our students submitted 869 questions in one day, so we know our students want answers to their many questions.

HC DrugFree Provides Update

HC DrugFree thanks the Thurgood Marshall Democratic Club of Howard County for inviting us to provide a community update.

Up in Smoke with Bonnie Branch Middle School PTA

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HC DrugFree and Bonnie Branch Middle School PTA partnered to provide Up In Smoke: What Parents Need to Know about Juuling, Vaping and Other Drugs. More than 75 parents and students attended.

Pictured front row: BBMS PTA President Tonya Sigalas; BBMS PTA HC DrugFree Rep Gina McGuinness; BBMS student and HC DrugFree volunteer Kyle McGuinness; HC DrugFree Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi; BBMS student and HC DrugFree volunteer Grace Koung. Back row: BBMS Principal Dr. Drew Cockley; program presenter and owner of Congruent Counseling Mark Donovan; and BBMS parent and HC DrugFree volunteer Fran Koung.