September 11, 2024
Media Contact:Chase Cook, Director, Office of Communications, 410-767-8649
Maryland Department of Health announces new program for youth struggling with substance and opioid use disordersNew residential program provides high-intensity inpatient services including 15 new beds for Maryland youth
Baltimore, MD – The Maryland Department of Health, in partnership with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, today announced the launch of a Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Minors program. The program is specifically designed to provide inpatient treatment for Marylanders under the age of 21.
"This partnership marks a pivotal moment for the health and well-being of our youth," said Maryland Health Secretary Dr. Laura Herrera Scott. "Adolescents under 21 have faced a lack of inpatient substance use disorder treatment options in Maryland. By opening the state's only high-intensity residential treatment facility for minors, we are addressing a critical gap in care, offering hope and vital support to the young people of Montgomery County and Maryland who need it most. This initiative represents the tireless effort and shared commitment between Montgomery County and the Maryland Department of Health. Our teens, young adults, and their families deserve nothing less than the comprehensive support this facility will provide."
The program is overseen by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and is funded by Maryland’s Opioid Restitution Fund and Montgomery County’s Opioid Abatement Funds. It is based in Baltimore City and will provide services to youth statewide, with a daily capacity of 15 beds.
“By providing specialized inpatient care, we are providing Montgomery County youth struggling with addiction the focused treatment they need to recover and rebuild their lives,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Our partnership with the Maryland Department of Health ensures that we are meeting this urgent need head-on and offering real hope to those impacted by substance use disorders. I appreciate the willingness of the Moore-Miller administration to provide access to this facility that will greatly help Montgomery County families in need of support.”
Patients who are in the program will receive:
- 24-hour medical monitoring and evaluation
- Substance, opioid and alcohol treatment services
- Family treatment and engagement
- Culturally and linguistically appropriate services
- Interventions to apply recovery skills and prevent relapse
- Support in promoting personal responsibility
- Help to reintegrate into the community
"Maryland Treatment Centers is proud to partner with the State and Montgomery County to re-open these adolescent services, which will fill a critical gap in the Maryland treatment continuum,” said Dr. Marc Fishman, Medical Director of Maryland Treatment Centers. “Comprehensive treatment makes an enormous difference in the lives of youth and their families. Intervening earlier in the course of this devastating illness will make a big difference in addressing the addiction epidemic."
To learn about the state health department's behavioral health resources and services for children and adolescents, visit
health.maryland.gov/youthbehavioralhealth.
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The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management and community engagement.
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