Wicomico County Department of Corrections awarded grant

In Wicomico County the Department of Corrections is getting a helping hand in fighting addiction within their walls. 

A new 35,000 dollar grant will help create programs within the Department of Corrections aimed at placing more attention on treatment rather than just medication alone. 

Mosaic Group awarded the Department with the grant to provide a peer support specialist who will have the support of the Maryland Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment program (SBIRT). 

According to the Deputy Director of the Department, Thomas Kimball, the peer specialist will  work directly with department staff to gather data on the number of inmates who are at risk for alcohol and drug abuse.  

Kimball also said the funding is expected to additionally provide a vehicle, a laptop computer and other equipment to help get the program started. 

This is a step forward in the community because more treatment than medication will better help the fight against addiction, according to health experts. 

"We know that it is treatment, not medication by itself, but treatment that changes lives," said Michael Finegan, a clinical psychologist. 

"Medication is important for opioid use disorder, but as a platform upon which the individual can build their life," said Finegan.