On January 9th HC Drug Free and the Howard County PTSA Collaborative Parent Education Group hosted a virtual town hall: How Much is Too Much? Finding a Balance between Academic Performance and Student Well-Being. Guest speaker, Anne Arena, MA, CAS shared her experience as a school psychologist and what she sees happening in the lives…
HC DrugFree News
How Much is Too Much? Virtual Town Hall on Teen Stress in Howard County
Some stress can be motivating, but too much can be debilitating. So how do we help students learn how to effectively cope with academic pressure so they can be successful in all areas of their lives and prevent them from resorting to unhealthy coping strategies? Join us on Monday, January 9 from 5:30 p.m. to…
100 Free Medication Lockboxes Distributed During Medication & Sharps Collection Event
On October 29, during HC DrugFree’s medication & sharps disposal event, 100 free medication lockboxes were distributed to participating community members! These lockboxes were provided as our continued promotion of safe, secure storage of medication to keep our community safer!
Medication & Sharps Collection Results
As a part of the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day HC DrugFree’s drive-thru site collected 1,294 lbs. of medication (45 white bins) and 23 red bins of sharps in only 4 hours! Sharps are not included in the weight.
Certificate of Recognition from County Executive Calvin Ball
Thank you to County Executive Calvin Ball for awarding HC DrugFree with this Certificate of Recognition for National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month. The certificate was presented to HC DrugFree Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi by Kim Pruim who represented the County Executive at HC DrugFree’s semi-annual medication & sharps collection event.
Parenting Class Shares Their Tricks of the Trade
Another Guiding Good Choices parenting class series ended last week, and the parents who participated walked away with some great ideas and suggestions from other parents on how to handle different situations. Great discussions were had on the pros and cons of paying children for chores and how to get buy-in and agreement from reluctant…
Semi-Annual Medication & Sharps Collection is on Saturday!
Drive-Thru Medication & Sharps Disposal Event Our semi-annual drive-thru medication & sharps disposal event, aka Drug Take Back Day, is just around the corner, and we can’t wait to see you! Join us on Saturday October 29 from 10 a.m. – 2p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center Parking Lot (near the Columbia Swim Center.)…
Virtual Town Hall on Teen Substance Misuse in Howard County
On Monday, October 24, HC DrugFree, in partnership with the Howard County PTSA Collaborative Parent Education Group, hosted a virtual town hall on teen substance misuse in Howard County. Parents, educators, mental health professionals, law enforcement representatives and more joined together in a conversation about what drugs students are using, how they are getting them,…
HC DrugFree at Latino Health Fair
HC DrugFree participated in the Latino Health Fair at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center on Saturday Oct 15th. This fair provided health information and services to Spanish speakers in Howard County. In addition to HC DrugFree staff, we were joined by a member of our Teen Advisory Council.
Important 60-Second Survey!!! (Yes, We Timed It!)
In 2022-2023, HC DrugFree will host a series of FREE town hall events for the Howard County community. Each event will address a behavioral health (substance use and/or mental health) topic and will feature an expert in the field. The events will be free of charge and open to the entire community.To help us plan…
Howard County Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board Chair
Joan Webb Scornaienchi, HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, was recently elected chair of the Howard County Local Behavioral Health Advisory (HCLBHA) Board. HCLBHA was formed in June 2018 to advise the Howard County Executive and County Health Officer with their responsibility to plan, manage, and monitor Behavioral Health programs and services for county residents. “I am pleased…
Summer Life Skills – That’s a Wrap!
HC DrugFree completed another successful Life Skills program for middle school students last week. Twenty middle school students learned skills that will help them better navigate the social difficulties of adolescence, such as how to be assertive, make good choices, communicate clearly, and how to effectively cope with anxiety and anger. The class was taught…
HC DrugFree Attends Annual Health and Human Services Fair
Once again, HC DrugFree participated in Leadership Howard County’s annual Health and Human Services Fair for their Leadership U students. We were proud to be represented by a former Teen Advisory Council (TAC) member working on our summer 2022 staff. The LU students were informed about our mission and the many opportunities for youth volunteers…
Teens Discuss Marijuana Use
In a collaborative effort with the Kerala Cultural Society, recent HCPSS grad and member of HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council (TAC), Adhithyaa Nair was interviewed by Sidhaarth Raghunath about issues related marijuana use in teens, including different perceptions about the safety of marijuana use, how it affects the nervous system both in the short and…
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Maryland has a new way to connect to a local behavioral health crisis call specialist. Calling 988 will connect callers directly to the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline which can provide assistance with substance use or mental health crises. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline replaces the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1- 800-273-8255). All contacts…
HC DrugFree Executive Director Meets with SAMHSA
Today, Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi was invited to showcase HC DrugFree at SAMHSA’s Region 3 Prevention Stakeholders meeting. Ms. Scornaienchi shared about two events where Howard County residents and guests were asked why they support Substance Use/Misuse Prevention. HC DrugFree’s “My Prevention Story” slideshow was played for the group.
HC DrugFree Board Member Provides Unique Perspective to Pain Management Publication
We are pleased to announce that HC DrugFree board member, Brian Morrison, DC, has contributed to a comprehensive medical textbook on pain management. As a chiropractor, he provides a unique perspective on integrative pain management that could provide valuable information to both future and current doctors regarding alternatives to opioids and other potentially habit-forming drugs.…
Senior Week Virtual Program Available
Congratulations Class of 2022! Before you head off to Senior Week, check out the “Senior Week: Staying Safe in Ocean City” virtual program on the Senior Week page.
Free Life Skills Classes
FREE and back by popular demand!!! Life Skills Training for Grades 6-9 (or slightly younger or older) The next FREE 8 online sessions will be offered Tuesdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28 & March 7, 14, 21, 28. HC DrugFree is providing another series of FUN and interactive skills-based classes designed to promote positive health…
Congratulations to the 2022 HoCo Student Film Festival Winner
Congratulations to siblings Mia and Joey Dowd for winning the HC DrugFree Category at the Ho Co Student Film Festival on Friday, May 6 with the film, Drinking Doesn’t Solve Problems, It Causes More, which can be viewed below or on our website. Thank you to all of the students who submitted their films to the Ho…
National Prevention Week: My Prevention Story
Using SAMHSA’s 2022 National Prevention Week (NPW) challenge called #MyPreventionStory, YOU told HC DrugFree WHY you support prevention services and education. NPW is the perfect time to remind our Howard County community about the importance of prevention programs, the positive impact they have on mental health and substance use, and that prevention saves lives and money. Click here or…
Take Back Event Slideshow
Please take a few minutes to enjoy HC DrugFree’s commemorative slideshow of our April 30 drive-thru medication and sharps collection and the Hidden in Plain Sight trailer tour. Again, thank you to the community, our partners, and our dedicated and caring team!!! Together, we collected 1,157 lbs. (40 white bins) of medication. The additional 21 red bins…
MD’s Lt. Governor: Part of Our Team
Once again, Maryland’s Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford was a member of HC DrugFree’s Medication and Sharps collection team. The Lt. Governor has remained committed to fighting the opioid epidemic and related mental health issues in Maryland through a comprehensive approach that has included a focus on prevention, treatment, and recovery.
1,157 lbs. of Medication Collected at HC DrugFree’s Site
HC DrugFree provided a 2-for-1 event today between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot. At the twice-a-year drive-thru Medication and Sharps Collection, volunteers collected 1,157 lbs. of medication (40 bins), plus 21 bins of sharps. At the same time, adults were invited to experience the Hidden In Plain…
County Executive Ball Presents HC DrugFree with a Certificate of Recognition
At today’s drive-thru Medication and Sharps Collection held in the Wilde Lake Village Center, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball presented HC DrugFree with a Certificate of Recognition for the organization’s annual Drug and Alcohol Awareness Month celebrated each April.
MD’s U.S. Attorney and DEA’s ASAC Visit HC DrugFree’s Site & Tour Trailer
United States Attorney for the District of MD Erek L. Barron and Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) visited HC DrugFree’s Medication and Sharps collection site held on the DEA’s 21st National Drug Take Back Day, and along with approximately 100 other adults, both men visited…
CHS Pre-Prom Educational Events
Thank you to the Centennial High School (CHS) administration for partnering with HC DrugFree to present pre-prom programs to Juniors and Seniors. The two programs were held on Friday, April 22 and addressed some of the many dangers of substance use. A special thank you to Mr. Shannon Garrett for presenting and overseeing this unique and memorable…
2-for-1 Event
Medication & Sharps Disposal and the In Plain Sight Experience HC Drug Free is excited to announce a unique opportunity for parents and other adults. In addition to our spring Drive-thru Medication and Sharps Collection on April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., adults are invited to tour the In Plain Sight Experience, a…
Another Successful Parenting Class Wraps Up
As another successful series of Guiding Good Choices parenting classes comes to a close, it is important to reflect on what was learned. Beyond the topics addressed by the curriculum, this class raised some very practical and pertinent questions that many parents experience and just aren’t sure how to handle. For example, the class discussed…
Ho Co Teens Didn’t Have All The Answers
Prior to volunteering for the Life Skills class, our older students were given the opportunity to test their own knowledge about drug and alcohol use and other topics from the Life Skills course. While some of our older students are new to the program, others have volunteered previously and are familiar with the content. In…
Guiding Good Choices – Free Classes for Parents & Guardians
Raising preteens and teens is tough. Wouldn’t it be great if adults could take a class that taught us how to help our kids avoid risky behaviors, all while learning how to say NO to drugs and alcohol? There is! HC DrugFree will again present this popular parenting class for Howard County parents, guardians, and…
HC DrugFree’s “Teen Talk” Safe Driving Program
HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council hosted a “Teen Talk” virtual safe driving program in partnership with the MD Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office, the Howard County Police Department, the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office, and Students Against Destructive Decisions. Teens…
Haze Event for Teens and Parents
On November 15, 2021, a group of high school students, middle schools students, and parents joined HC DrugFree for a viewing and discussion of Haze, a documentary about a college student’s experience with alcohol overdose and hazing. Because the program was so well-received, HC DrugFree has decided to offer the opportunity to Howard County PTAs/PTSAs…
Certificate of Recognition for National Medicine Abuse Month
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball issued a Certificate of Recognition for National Medicine Abuse Month. On behalf of the County Executive, Kim Pruim presented Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi with the Certificate at HC DrugFree’s drive-thru medication and sharps collection on National Drug Take Back Day.
1,106 Pounds of Medication Collected
On Saturday, October 23, 2021, HC DrugFree’s site collected 1,106 lbs. of medication in four hours at our convenient drive-thru in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot. In addition, we collected 19 bins of sharps. Our next collection is tentatively scheduled for April 2022. Thank you to our partners: The Howard County Police Department,…
Medication & Sharps Collection Event
HC DrugFree will hold our next FREE and convenient medication & sharps drive-thru collection on Saturday, October 23rd from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot. What kind of things can you bring? We’ll take: Prescriptions Over-the-counter medications Vitamins Vape devices (with the batteries removed, please!) Inhalers Sharps (EpiPens,…
Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi, Celebrates Anniversary with HC DrugFree
August 31, 2021 marks twelve years since Joan Webb Scornaienchi was instated as the Executive Director of HC DrugFree. Since that time Ms. Scornaienchi has been dedicated to HC DrugFree’s mission of keeping Howard County residents informed and safe through a variety of educational opportunities including HC DrugFree’s popular semi-annual medication and sharps disposal event.…
Summer Life Skills Class Recap
Thirty four elementary, middle and high school students participated in HC DrugFree’s summer online Life Skills series. They were joined by our instructional team of 3 high school students, 3 college students, a recent college graduate, a parent, and HC DrugFree’s Executive Director. An evidence-based curriculum was followed and team members shared their experiences. Student feedback: “I…
CFHoCo Announces 2021 Community Grant Awards
HC DrugFree is honored to receive a 2021 community grant award from the Community Foundation of Howard County. For more than 50 years, the Community Foundation of Howard County has served as a knowledgeable, trusted partner that forges connections between donors and nonprofit organizations to provide impactful investments in Howard County. In 2020, the foundation awarded more than…
Free Life Skills Classes for Grades 6-9
FREE and back by popular demand!!! Life Skills Training for Grades 6-9 8 FREE online sessions July 13 – 28, 2021 HC DrugFree is providing another series of FUN and interactive skills-based classes designed to promote positive health and personal development. This curriculum was designed for students in grades 6 to 9, but for slightly…
Back by Popular Demand! Senior Week: Staying Safe in Ocean City
Virtual Event Available Starting June 10 In just a few short weeks, many Howard County teens will trade their graduation caps and gowns for bathing suits and fun in the sun in Ocean City, MD during the popular “Senior Week.” While Senior Week can be fun for recent grads, many teens opt to engage in…
HC DrugFree Breaks Record with Spring 2021 Medication & Sharps Collection
Pictured to left of HC DrugFree’s Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi are only some of the many sharps collected (red & a few white bins on the left) at HC DrugFree’s drive-thru site. To right of Joan are 1,494.5 lbs. of medication (white bins to the right). Sharps are not included in the weight. Thank you to the Howard County Police and…
HC DrugFree Receives Recognition from State & Local Government for Take Back Efforts
Thank you to Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford (right) for presenting HC DrugFree with another citation signed by Governor Hogan and the Lt. Governor for the impressive amount of medication we have helped to remove from our community and hosting these collection events on the DEA’s national Drug Take Back Days since 2012. Thank you to County Executive Calvin…
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi, Recognized for Making Positive Changes in Howard County
Joan Webb Scornaienchi, Executive Director of HC DrugFree, was recognized as a Woman Making Positive Changes in Howard County as a part of the inaugural ‘So She Did’ Campaign. HC DrugFree’s team thanks Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, Howard County Commission For Women, and the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services for shining…
Semi-Annual Drive-thru Medication and Sharps Collection
HC DrugFree’s next drive-thru medication and sharps collection will be held on Saturday April 24th in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot in Columbia between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Rain or shine. Bring your prescription and over-the-counter medication and sharps (needles, syringes and EpiPens). Separate sharps from the meds/pills. Sharps should be in…
February 2021: Teacher Appreciation Month in partnership with Morrison Chiropractic
Attention all Teachers! To recognize the outstanding efforts of teachers who have persevered in the face of the incredible challenges presented by COVID-19 we are partnering with Morrison Chiropractic for the month of February to bring you Teacher Appreciation Month. We recognize how difficult teaching through a pandemic has been and how it has contributed…
FREE Life Skills Classes for Howard County Students
FREE and back by popular demand!!! Life Skills Training for Middle School Students 15 FREE online sessions to begin on January 27, 2021 HC DrugFree is providing another series of FUN and interactive skills-based classes designed to promote positive health and personal development. This “Middle School” curriculum was designed for students in grades 6 to…
KNOW Connection: Scavenger Hunt Slideshow and Results
Have you ever made a snowman out of household items? Or painted a rock with a positive message to hide somewhere in the community? Perhaps you’re passionate about donating to your local animal shelter or to a food pantry. While some of these things may not seem like a big deal, when you embrace “random…
Adults Can Now Join Scavenger Hunt!
‘Tis the Season to be Socially Distant…but we want to be Jolly, too! This holiday season looks a lot different than it has in years past, and many people are having a difficult time due to lack of connection. But what can we do about it? Our Teen Advisory Council will be participating in a…
KNOW Connection (a socially-distanced) Scavenger Hunt
‘Tis the Season to be Socially Distant…but we want to be Jolly, too! This holiday season looks a lot different than it has in years past, and many people are having a difficult time due to lack of connection. But what can we do about it? We would like the Teen Advisory Council to safely…
Changes to the Drive-Thru Medication & Sharps Collection
The next Drug Take Back Day is almost upon us, and we’re prepared to sally forth into the post-pandemic world and bring back our long awaited drive-thru drug disposal event! So, what does HC Drug Free’s drive-thru Drug Take Back event look like in the age of Coronavirus? We hope it will look a lot…
Guiding Good Choices – Free Classes for Parents
Parenting preteens and teens is tough. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a class that taught us how to tell our kids to confidently say NO to drugs? There is! And it starts THIS TUESDAY at 6:30 pm. Sign up today for the 4 class series (Tuesdays) before spots fill up! Register here For…
Howard County Drug Take-Back Day
Please join HC DrugFree for our semi-annual drive through Drug Take-Back event on Saturday October 24th. Bring any prescription or over-the-counter medications, syringes, EpiPens, vitamins, and even pet medications. This allows these items to be disposed of safely (please don’t flush them!) or end up in the hands of those who might misuse them. All…
Online CPR Training
HC DrugFree’s team thanks, our partner, the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services for conducting an online cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR training and to the 50 individuals who attended. We appreciate your support of HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council. Click here to read a blog post written by one of our TAC members about…
HC DrugFree Holding Online Summer Classes for Middle School Students
HC DrugFree is providing a highly interactive skills-based program designed to promote positive health and personal development for youth in grades 6-8. The integrated approach helps to develop personal, interpersonal, and drug resistance skills. This middle school program uses developmentally appropriate, collaborative learning strategies to help students achieve competency in the skills that have been…
Completed Online Parenting Classes
HC DrugFree and the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office partnered to complete another series of parenting classes open to parents of 9-14 year olds. The first class was held in person at Oakland Mills Middle School and the final 3 classes were held online. Parents were provided with the skills and knowledge to reduce the…
Online Parenting Classes
HC DrugFree and the State’s Attorney’s Office are offering another series of parenting classes. Guiding Good Choices is an evidence-based, interactive prevention program that provides the families of children age 9-14 with the skills and knowledge to reduce the risk that their children will use drugs. Online parenting classes begin Wednesday, May 20. Thank you…
Online Life Skills Classes for Bonnie Branch Middle School Students
HC DrugFree has successfully moved Life Skills Classes for Bonnie Branch Middle School students online as of Tuesday, April 28. We have completed 6 classes through Zoom so far. Thank you to the BBMS team: Dr. Andrew Cockley, school staff, PTA, and BBMS/HC DrugFree Rep Gina McGuinness for making this partnership such a success throughout…
Life Skills Classes for Middle School Students at Bonnie Branch
HC DrugFree’s next middle school Life Skills Classes will be held at Bonnie Branch Middle School (BBMS) immediately following school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If your child attends BBMS and you want to register them for these 15 classes, please contact HC DrugFree. Free. Classes begin Tuesday, March 17. Thank you to the BBMS team:…
Our Team Thanks Dunloggin Middle School
HC DrugFree’s team presented the final of 15 Life Skills classes held at Dunloggin Middle School. During the final classes, students applied the skills they have learned in order to discuss handling difficult situations and resolving conflicts. Pictured: Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi, Teen Advisory Council member Julia Mamo, college student/staff Ashley Rothermel, Teen Advisory…
Report Released: 2020 Vision for Health in Howard County
For decades, Howard County has been known for its forward-thinking approach to creating the highest quality of life, serving as a national example of how people of diverse backgrounds can create a thriving community. Yet, the future presents new challenges. Click here for a printable PDF of the report released by the Horizon Foundation.
HC DrugFree Participates in “Primary Prevention” Rally in DC
On Wednesday, February 5, thousands of youth and adults gathered on the Capitol Hill grounds to show a united force for continued funding for primary prevention efforts and to hear members of Congress pledge their support to the energized audience from across the United States and beyond. HC DrugFree works hard to give a voice…
HC DrugFree at ONDPC Update
On Tuesday, February 4, Jim Carroll, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), was one of the speakers at the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) National Leadership Forum, bringing together top experts in the field of prevention to inspire and educate. This month, ONDCP released the Trump Administration’s National…
Life Skills Classes for Dunloggin Middle School Students
HC DrugFree has completed 6 of the 15 scheduled Life Skills after-school classes at Dunloggin Middle School. Flier Life Skills (12-6-19)
Not My Child: Teen Vaping and More
Parents/guardians are invited to join HC DrugFree and Marriotts Ridge High School PTSA to learn more about vaping and other drug use in Howard County. January 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the Marriotts Ridge High School auditorium. Free. Open to the public. If school activities are cancelled due to weather, the back-up date will be…
Drugs and Alcohol Chat Day
On Wednesday, April 1, 2020 between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will host their annual National Drug and Alcohol Chat Day. Once again, HC DrugFree is proud to partner with NIDA to provide an online access code for Howard County teens to submit their questions about drugs and alcohol…
Life Skills Classes for Middle School Students
HC DrugFree is partnering with Dunloggin Middle School to provide a highly interactive and skills-based program designed to promote positive health and personal development for youth in grades 6-8. The integrated approach helps to develop personal, interpersonal, and drug resistance skills. This middle school program uses developmentally appropriate, collaborative learning strategies to help students achieve…
Drug Take Back Day
The next convenient drive-thru medications and sharps (needles, syringes and EpiPens) collection is this Saturday, October 26. HC DrugFree’s team wants your unwanted and expired over-the-counter and prescription medication as well as any sharps. No need to remove medication or labels from the bottles and no need to get out of your vehicle. Join us 10…
Guiding Good Choices Parenting Class
HC DrugFree and the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Howard County Public School System and the Howard County Health Department will once again provide evidence-based classes for parents of 9 to 14 year olds to gain skills and knowledge to reduce the risk that their children will use drugs. This 4-week series…
Attend Drug-Free Pain Management Month Event
HC DrugFree encourages you to learn more about possible drug-free alternatives to pain management. According to Dr. Brian Morrison, “Our understanding of chronic pain has changed dramatically in recent years. Most people can manage pain better with a variety of conservative modalities like chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, exercise and learning about the science behind their…
High In Plain Sight
HC DrugFree and Delphi Behavioral Health Group were pleased to offer High In Plain Sight earlier today at Howard High School with national presenter “Tall Cop” Officer Jermaine Galloway. More than 175 adults attended the event.
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…
HoCo FilmFest with HC DrugFree Category
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 student Claire O’Shaughnessy 2nd Place Winner: “Escape the Vape” by Reservoir High School student Dannah Marcelino
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director Honored
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…
Two 2019 Senior Week: Staying Safe in Ocean City Programs
Monday, March 18, 2019 at Howard High School and Monday, April 1, 2019 at Marriotts Ridge High School Parents (and grandparents!) and high school seniors are invited to attend two 2019 Senior Week: Staying Safe in OC programs. Both events will begin at 7:00 PM. Once again, Ocean City Police Cpl. Howard Caplan, Howard County Public…
Prevention Professionals Return to Capital Hill
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director joined Prevention Professionals in DC to educate and advocate for funding.
Teens Get Their Questions Answered on Chat Day
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) hosts a Chat Day annually. HC DrugFree is proud to once again be able to provide the Howard County access code. Information about registering for the Chat Day can be found at https://teens.drugabuse.gov/national-drug-alcohol-facts-week/chat-with-scientists. Our Howard County students have questions. In a previous year, our students submitted 869 questions in one day,…
HC DrugFree Provides Update
HC DrugFree thanks the Thurgood Marshall Democratic Club of Howard County for inviting us to provide a community update.
HC DrugFree at Atholton High School
HC DrugFree thanks the Atholton High School PTSA for inviting us to speak to parents and students.
Up in Smoke with Bonnie Branch Middle School PTA
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…
MD BHA “In the KNOW” about HC DrugFree’s Opioid Campaign
Joan Webb Scornaienchi showed Michael Baier, the Director of Prevention at the Maryland Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), HC DrugFree’s In the KNOW about Opioids campaign materials.
Partnering with OCPD throughout the Year
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi and Lt. Howard Caplan with the Ocean City Police Department work together throughout the year to keep Howard County youth and families safe. It’s time to begin planning our spring 2019 Senior Week in OC programs held in partnership with the OCPD and OC Beach Patrol. Another picture…
HC DrugFree’s Latest Successful Medication and Sharps Collection
HC DrugFree’s Team had another successful Medication and Sharps drive-thru collection in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot in Columbia. In 4 hours on a rainy Saturday, 776.3 lbs of medication and 18 large bins of sharps were collected at our location. Thank you to all the Howard County residents delivering medication and sharps.…
HC DrugFree Continues to Work with CADCA
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director was once again invited by Retired Army General, Arthur T. Dean to attend the annual Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) awards dinner. The event was held at National Harbor, MD. HC DrugFree thanks General Dean and CADCA’s staff for your support throughout the years.
Wilde Lake Village Center Opioid Forum
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi was a panelists at an Opioid Forum hosted by the Wilde Lake Village Health And Wellness Committee. The event was held at Slayton House.
Guiding Good Choices Parent Program
HC DrugFree and the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO) are partnering to provide a 4-week training program for parents/guardians of 9-14 year olds. The classes are being held at the Elkridge Library and running through the month of October. For more information about upcoming classes, email Admin@hcdrugfree.org or call 443-325-0040. Pictured staff from HC…
HC DrugFree at IMPAQ International
HC DrugFree is proud to partner with IMPAQ International’s researchers, data and analytics experts, survey professionals, technical innovators, subject matter experts, and communications specialists. Today, HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi spoke to employees at their Columbia, MD location. Pictured left to right: Bryan Gale, Lauren Weinmann, Joan Webb Scornaienchi and Peter Morrison.
Maryland Women Selected Drug Use and Addiction as One of Their Top Five Issues
HC DrugFree’s executive director and past chair of the Howard County Commission for Women (CFW), Joan Webb Scornaienchi was invited to participate as a Substance Use Disorder subject expert at the Maryland CFW’s Voices of MD Women round table conference held at Notre Dame of MD University. A report released by MD CFW, showed women across…
HC DrugFree Team Visits Liquor Stores
On behalf of Howard County parents and youth, HC DrugFree continues to remind merchants not to sell alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age. In June, HC DrugFree’s team once again visited several liquor stores in Howard County and provided merchants with additional “Be A Parent…Not A Friend” educational campaign materials. Thank you to the many…
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Board (ADAAB) Final Meeting
Tonight was the final Howard County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Board (ADAAB) meeting. HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi served as chair of ADAAB for 8 years and worked beside committed board members and members of the community. County Executive Allan Kittleman provided Certificates of Recognition for the appointed board members and the…
HC DrugFree Receives Donation from the Rotary Club of Columbia
HC DrugFree thanks Becky Mangus (right in photo), outgoing president of the Rotary Club of Columbia, for the club’s generous donation. HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi accepted the check at the June 19 meeting held at Eggspectation in Columbia. Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Columbia for 50 years of Giving to The…
HC DrugFree at Elkridge 50+ Center
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director spent the morning talking with Howard County residents at the new Elkridge 50+ Center. Residents learned about talking with their doctors about their medications, safe medication storage, proper disposal of medication, and so much more. Each participant was given a medication storage box.
To Incoming Freshmen:
Do NOT feel pressured to experiment with drugs. Many around you will smoke or Juul and the long-term damage is not worth it. If your “best friend” pressures you into trying, reject it. A real friend wouldn’t.
Teen Advisory Council at Korean Fair
Members of HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council (TAC) volunteered at the Korean Fair to answer questions about the organization’s services and recruit more teens from across the county to TAC. The fair was held at the Charles E. Miller Library in Ellicott City. Pictured: TAC member Calvin Lee, Joan Webb Scornaienchi and TAC member Tim…
Living Free: Breaking the Chains of Addiction and Whatever Is Holding You Back
HC DrugFree was among the organizations invited to participate in Bethany Lane Baptist Church’s Living Free program. Participants were encouraged to live free from the chains holding them back. Speakers pictured above: Sherrie McKay, Joan Webb Scornaienchi with HC DrugFree, Gary Freeman, Beth Schmidt with the MD Coalition of Families, and Pastor Kip Smith. Absent…
Throwing Out the First Pitch
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman, Health Officer Maura Rossman and HC DrugFree’s Executive Director joined together to throw out the first pitch at today’s first annual Recovery Oriented Services of Care (ROSC) Home Run for Recovery Softball Tournament held at Centennial Park in Ellicott City.
Another Successful Medication and Sharps Drive-Thru Collection
Today, HC DrugFree’s team of volunteers were busy from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot collecting 952.5 lbs of unwanted and expired prescription and over-the-counter medication as well as 18 bins of sharps (needles, syringes, and EpiPens). Thank you to the Howard County Police Department and the Drug…
HC DrugFree Executive Director Received Audrey Robbins Humanitarian Award
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi received the Audrey Robbins Humanitarian Award for Employee of the Year from the Association of Community Services (ACS) of Howard County. The event was held in The Great Room at Savage Mills.
Howard County Executive Responds – A Local Sister Lost to Heroin
County Executive Allan Kittleman directs the public to HC DrugFree and the Howard County Health Department for concerns about heroin addiction and to avoid the tragic loss shared in this video.
Scornaienchi Named 1 of 10 People Who Make the Baltimore Region Better
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi, was named one of “10 People Who Make the Baltimore Region Better” in an article in The Baltimore Sun. Ms. Scornaienchi has been the Executive Director of HC DrugFree since 2009 and has received much recognition for her work.
HC DrugFree Participated on Panel at University of MD College Park
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi, was invited by Dr. Amelia Arria and the University of Maryland School of Public Health to serve on a panel as part of Public Health Research at Maryland 2018. The day-long event was held on April 3 at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union on the University of…
First of Two 2018 Senior Week: Staying Safe in Ocean City Programs
Ocean City Police Cpl. Howard Caplan and Howard County Public School administrator James McVey representing Ocean City Beach Patrol joined HC DrugFree’s Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi at the first of two annual Senior Week: Staying Safe in OC programs. This event was hosted by Howard High School’s principal Nick Novak. HC DrugFree thanks its…
Congratulations for Induction into Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame
Congratulations to Joan Webb Scornaienchi, HC DrugFree’s Executive Director since 2009 for being inducted into the Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame for her many contributions to the County.
Howard County Teens Kick Butts
Members of HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council (TAC) remind you that today is national Kick Butts Day, a national day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco. Great strides have been made in the fight against tobacco, but daily, more than 3,000 youth under 18 try smoking…
HC DrugFree’s Teen Volunteers Join Staff at the Latino Health Fair
HC DrugFree’s teen volunteers joined staff at the annual Latino Health Fair at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center to distribute free English and Spanish drug/alcohol educational materials.
Ho Co Student FilmFest – HC DrugFree Category
Once again, HC DrugFree was proud to partner with the Ho Co Student FilmFest. The event was held on Friday, March 9 at the Miller Library in Ellicott City. More than 100 youths and adults attended the event to cheer on the student filmmakers. HC DrugFree’s category received 8 films qualifying for judging. Pictured: HCPSS staff…
HC DrugFree’s Executive Director to be Inducted into Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame
Congratulations to HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi for her upcoming induction into the Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame. Ms. Scornaienchi will be one of three women inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018. The induction ceremony will be held on March 22 in the George Howard Building in Ellicott City,…
HC DrugFree Standing with National Partners — Partnering for Prevention
HC DrugFree was pleased to spend time with old friends and meet new partners in the substance use prevention movement while at the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s annual National Leadership Forum in National Harbor, MD. Pictured: HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi with Dr. Wilson Compton, Deputy Director, from the National Institute on…
Substance Use and Its Impact on Academic Achievement and Mental Health
HC DrugFree, Howard High School PTSA, and Bonnie Branch Middle School PTA partnered to present: SUBSTANCE USE AND ITS IMPACT ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH with expert speaker Dr. Amelia Arria. Pictured: Bonnie Branch Middle School Principal Dr. Andrew Cockley, Howard High School PTSA President Donna Sudbrook, Bonnie Branch Middle School’s HC DrugFree Parent…
HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council Participates in NIDA’s Alcohol & Drug Facts Week
Members of HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council promoted the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s national Drug and Alcohol Facts Week by “Shattering the Myths” and submitting a video question.
St. Louis Home and School Association Invites HC DrugFree to Speak to Parents
HC DrugFree’s team provided a drug and alcohol update to parents at St. Louis School located in Clarksville. The speakers included HC DrugFree’s Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi and the owner of Congruent Counseling, Mark Donovan. Pictured: Sheri Lewis, Home & School Association, President; Camilla Duffy, Home & School Association, Treasurer; Joan Webb Scornaienchi; Tina McMorland, Home & School Association, Secretary;…
Howard County Future Business Leaders of America Region Conference
Thank you to the Howard County Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Megha Sharma, the President of Long Reach High School’s FBLA chapter and Region 5 Vice President, for inviting Joan Webb Scornaienchi and John Scornaienchi to present “Gaining a Competitive Edge” at the FBLA Regional Leadership Conference earlier today. The conference was held…
HC DrugFree Speaks to the Rotary Club of Columbia Patuxent
Thank you to the Rotary Club of Columbia Patuxent for inviting HC DrugFree to speak at your morning meeting. Pictured: Rotary’s Cliff Feldwick, HC DrugFree’s Joan Webb Scornaiench, and Howard County Deputy State’s Attorney and HC DrugFree’s Board Member Kim Oldham.
