Drug Free Wicomico Calling for Community Involvement

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md – For nearly 10 years, Drug Free Wicomico has served the county through outreach programs. Now, the coalition is looking to fill open positions.

The coalition meets once a month to discuss ways to foster a supportive and safe environment for people in recovery, as well as youth prevention efforts in the community. While Drug Free Wicomico includes 12 different sectors, organizers say the challenge is finding enough community participation to fill them.

The 12 sectors include youth, parents, business, media, schools, youth-serving organizations, law enforcement, religious or fraternal organizations, civic or volunteer groups, health care professionals, state or local agencies, and other local organizations.

Tammy Griffin, with the Wicomico County Health Department, is a member of the parent sector. She said participation has steadily declined in recent years.

“Each year it kind of grew and grew until recently, when we noticed a drop-off in participation over the last year or two,” Griffin said. “Right now, we’re trying to build that participation back up.”

The coalition’s mission is simple: to promote healthy behaviors and reduce drug use. Takeisha Collins, who also works for the health department, is responsible for keeping the mission and passion of the project alive.

“I really want to see people succeed and do well, or introduce resources that could help reduce harm to themselves, others and the community,” Collins said.

Collins is calling on community members to help fill positions across the different sectors, saying different perspectives make Drug Free Wicomico stronger.

“What we’re hoping is that eventually the coalition is community-led and the health department is just there to support,” Collins said. “A great coalition is only great when community members are involved. They can make it grow.”

Anyone interested in joining one of the 12 sectors can contact Collins by email at takeisha.collins@maryland.gov