THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Charles: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE" IT IS KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND.

AND THAT MOONS TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE RUNNING OF THE PREAKNESS STAKES WHICH WILL BE HISTORIC THIS YEAR FOR TWO REASONS.

FIRST, THE 150TH RUNNING OF THE RACE AND SECOND THE FINAL RUNNING OF THE RACE BEFORE ALL OF THIS IS TORN DOWN.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB, BILL KNAUF.

THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US.

YOU'RE NEW AROUND THESE PARTS.

TELL US YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> I SURE AM I'VE BEEN HERE SIX MONTHS.

I'VE BEEN IN NEW JERSEY 26 YEARS RUNNING THE OPERATIONS THERE.

>> Charles: THE MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB HAS BEEN AROUND FOREVER THIS IS A NEW INCARNATION YOU ARE RUNNING?

>> WE ARE WE DECIDED THE NAME HAD A GREAT HISTORY TO IT IT FELT NATURAL TO KEEP THIS.

THAT IS A NONPROFIT ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE RACING INDUSTRY TO OPERATE THE TRACKS MOVING FORWARD BASED ON THE NEW LAW PASSED IN MARYLAND, WHICH GOES KNOCKS DOWN PIMLICO AND REBUILDS IT.

>> Jeff: IT IS INDIRECTLY A STATE ENTITY?

>> CORRECT.

WE ARE ACTING SEPARATELY BUT ON BEHALF OF THE STATE.

OBVIOUSLY WE ARE GOING TO BE IN THE STATE OWNED PIMLICO RACE COURSE, AND WE'RE GOING TO OPERATE THAT FOR LAUREL AND PIMLICO.

>> Jeff: ALL RIGHT.

DERBY DAY IS TOMORROW.

TWO WEEKS FROM TOMORROW IS PREAKNESS DAY, HISTORIC DAY AND WHAT HAPPENS THE DAY AFTER THAT?

>> THE DAY AFTER THAT IS A LOT OF CLEAN UP AND THE HORSE ALSO START TO MOVE OUT AND WE WILL PRETEAR THE SITE FOR CONSTRUCTION.

AND THIS SHORTLY THERE AFTER, THE BUILDING WILL COME DOWN AND THE BARN AREA WILL COME DOWN.

AND A COUPLE YEARS FROM NOW WE WILL HAVE A NEW PIMLICO RACE COURSE.

>> Jeff: WHAT THE IS THAT DIAGNOSE TO LOOK LIKE?

>> IT WILL REFLECT THE GREAT HISTORY THIS PLACE HAS AND THE HISTORY OF BALTIMORE AND MARYLAND.

YOU WANT IT TO HAVE THE AMENITIES OF ALL THE SPORTING VENUES HAVE TODAY AND WHAT FANS EXPECT.

I THINK IT WILL BE A GREAT MIX OF HOSPITALITY AND SOMETHING FOR THE FANS SORT OF IN THE FESTIVAL AND GENERAL ADMISSION AREAS.

EVERYBODY WILL ENJOY IT.

>> Jeff: THERE WAS TALK OF RELOCATING THE TRACK ITSELF, TURNING IT ON THE SITE.

THAT IS NOT HAPPENING?

>> CORRECT.

THE TRACK AND THE TURF COURSE WILL REMAIN AS THEY ARE.

THIS IS THE SAME TRACK THAT SECRETARIATE RAN OVER MANY YEARS AGO.

>> Jeff: WHAT HAPPENS AT LAUREL PARK?

NEXT YEAR'S PREAKNESS WILL BE RUN AT LAUREL.

>> CORRECT.

IT WILL BE VERY SIMILAR TO HOW THE BELMONT IS RUN AT SARATOGA.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ONE YEAR WE WILL BE AT LAUREL PARK AND IT WILL BE A UNIQUE SITUATION.

LAUREL IS A BEAUTIFUL RACE COURSE AS WELL.

IT WILL BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR BALTIMORE AND MARYLAND I'M SURE IT WILL BE A GREAT SHOW FOR THAT YEAR.

EVERYBODY WILL BE EXCITED TO COME BACK TO THE NEXT YEAR WHERE THE NEW PIMLICO WILL BE.

>> Jeff: ANY REASON LAUREL CAN'T HOST A PREAKNESS?

IT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE IS THE TRACK CONFIGURATION DIFFERENT?

>> THE TRACK IS DIFFERENT.

LAUREL IS A MILE AND AN EIGHTH.

IT'S DIFFERENT FOR HORSES WIDER TURNS.

THERE IS NO INFIELD AT LAUREL.

SO THAT'S ONE BIG DIFFERENCE THAT PIMLICO HAS THE LUXURY OF AN INFIELD AND HOSPITALITY OUT THERE.

EVERYTHING WILL BE ON THE BUILDING SIDALITY LAUREL.

IT WILL BE SMALLER AND MORE COMPACT I'M SURE IT WILL BE A GREAT SHOW.

>> Jeff: I WAS AROUND THIS TRACK A LOT AS A LITTLE KID.

AND JUST HAVE WARM FEELINGS FOR THE PLACE.

AND IT'S SAD TO LOOK AT IT NOW.

I MEAN IT'S FRANKLY SORT OF DILAPIDATED.

AND I WANT TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE.

IS THAT FAIR?

BECAUSE RACING HAS BEEN IN DECLINE EVERYWHERE?

>> I THINK RACING ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN CERTAIN AREAS HAVE THRIVED AND OTHERS THEY HAVEN'T.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS I CAME HERE WAS BECAUSE THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND THE CITY OF BALTIMORE ARE BEHIND THE PROJECT 100% AND THAT CONVINCED ME AND IS GOING TO CONVINCE FANS THIS IS A VIABLE RACING PRODUCT HERE.

AND IT'S GOING TO DRIVE A LOT OF BUSINESS, A LOT OF COMMERCE.

AND I THINK THIS IS JUST THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THIS.

OBVIOUSLY THE BUILDING HAD ITS DAY.

AND I THINK YOU SEND IT OFF ON THE 150TH WITH FANFARE AND CERTAINLY CELEBRATE THE HISTORY THAT IT'S HAD.

WHEN YOU GET A NEW BUILDING THAT WILL OPEN DOORS FOR GROWING RACING.

>> Jeff: LET'S TALK ABOUT HORSES.

YOU WILL HAVE A LOT OF HORSES COMING IN FOR THE MEET.

IT'S SHORT.

SIX RACING DAYS AND THAT'S IT.

PART OF THE STATE PLAN IS A NEW TRAINING FACILITY.

>> YES.

OUT IN WOODBINE AT SHAMROCK FARM IT WILL BE 800 HORSES IT WILL BE A STATE-OF-THE-ART TRAINING CENTER.

ALL NEW BARNS EVERYTHING WILL BE BRAND NEW.

WE WILL BUILD A TRACK THAT WILL RESEMBLE THE DIMENSIONS OF THIS TRACK SO WHEN THEY TRAIN THEY WILL KNOW AND THE HORSES WILL GET USED TO WHAT THEY WILL RUN ON AT THE NEW PIMLICO.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE FOR THE NUMBER OF RACING DAYS AND THE DEBATE OVER THAT INVOLVES THIS IS A FAMOUSLY DIVIDED INDUSTRY WITH THE HORSEMEN AND THE TRACK AND SO FORTH.

IS THERE A SWEET SPOT THERE?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO FIND THAT OUT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE HORSEMEN WERE SUPPORTIVE OF REDUCING 31 DAYS FROM LAST YEAR.

SO WE ARE AT 120 DAYS THIS YEAR.

SEVEN MORE AT TIM MONEYIAN.

WE WILL FIND IN THERE IS A SWEET SPOT OR TWEAKING MOVING FORWARD.

THE OBJECTIVE FOR EVERYBODY IS TO TRY TO HAVE AS MUCH OF A YEAR-ROUND RACING PRODUCT AS POSSIBLE.

WE WANT TO DO THAT FOR THE HORSEMEN AND THE BREEDERS AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT AS THE INDUSTRY.

AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU WANT TO PUT STRONG PERSONS OUT THERE AND YOU NEED TO GROW YOUR BETTING PRODUCT.

AND WE HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THAT ARENA.

SO IT WILL BE A BALANCE.

BY THE TIME WE GET NOT NEW PIMLICO WE WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA.

>> Jeff: THE BETTING ASPECT OF THE INDUSTRY REMINDS ME OF THE HEYDAY THAT I THINK ABOUT WHEN THE PLACE WOULD BE PACKED WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON A WEEKDAY.

THEY WERE PARTLY HERE FOR THE LOVE OF HORSES BUT PARTLY HERE BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY LEGAL FORM OF GAMBLING.

AND NOW MARYLAND HAS EVERY CONCEIVABLE FORM OF GAMBLING LEGALIZED.

HAS THAT BEEN THE BIGGEST HEADWIND FOR RACING?

>> I THINK YOU COULD SEE IT BOTH WAYS.

IT CERTAINLY OPENED A LOT OF NEW DOORS.

AT MON MONMOUTH BETTING SUPPORTED TRAFFIC THROUGH OUR BUILDING AND WHEN FOLKS ARE WATCHING A FOOTBALL GAME THEY ARE WATCHING THE RACING AND WANT TO BE A PART OF IT WE SAW THAT AS A POSITIVE, AN UPTICK AND YOU HAVE SPORTS GAMBLING ON-LINE IF WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT WITH OUR HORSERACING PRODUCT, I THINK WE MAYBE ABLE TO INTRODUCE OUR SPORT TO A YOUNGER AUDIENCE.

I CAN SEE IT BOTH WAYS YOU DON'T WANT COMPETITION BUT AT THE SAME TIME IF AT THAT TIME COMPETITION RAISES EVERYBODY UP THEN WE WANT TO KEEP GROWING HORSERACING THAT WE CAN.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL WORK TO GET THE AUDIENCES LIKE YOU EXPERIENCED HERE ON TRACK.

WE'LL DO PROMOTIONS AND DIFFERENT EVENTS AND TRY TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO A GREAT SPORT.

>> Jeff: HAVE YOU BEEN TO A PREAKNESS BEFORE?

>> ONE.

ONE.

FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> Jeff: SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A STORY.

>> IT WAS GREAT.

I HAD A DAY LIKE TODAY IT WAS BEAUTIFUL, SUNNY AND I WAS OUT ON THE INFIELD AND I GOT TO WALK AROUND AND THAT WAS MY FIRST PREAKNESS.

I GREW UP IN NEW YORK AND BEEN TO PLENTY OF BELMONTS AND WONDERBY AND ONE PREAKNESS AND I WILL ATTEND A LOT MORE PREAKNESSS.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE INFIELD?

THE FEATURE OF THE PREAKNESS THAT FRANKLY MOST OF OUR VIEWERS WOULD HAVE HAD A FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WITH.

ON THE DAYS WHEN 100,000 PEOPLE WOULD COME HERE FOR PREAKNESS A LOT WERE ON THE INFIELD RUNNING AROUND ON TOP OF THE PORT-A-POTS FOR SOME REASON AND DRINKING BEER AND IT IS NOT THE IMAGE THAT THE HORSEMEN WANT TO HAVE OF RACING BUT IT IS A BIG PART, I THINK, OF THE RESERVOIR OF AFFECTION THAT EVERYBODY HAS FOR THIS PLACE.

>> THERE ARE PLENTY OF STORIES FROM THE INFIELD.

NO DOUBT.

I THINK YOU WANT TO CREATE THE BALANCE OF OFFERING A GREAT, FUN, KATIONUAL PRODUCT OUT THERE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU CERTAINLY DO NEED TO CONTROL IT.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY IT SOUNDED LIKE THINGS GOT OUT OF HAND A LITTLE BIT BACK IN THE DAY.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A SENSE YET OF EXACTLY HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THE INFIELD BUT WE KNOW WE WANT TO CATER TO THE GENERAL FAN.

WE WANT THEM TO COME TO THE PREAKNESS AND EXPERIENCE THE DAY, ESPECIALLY FOR LOCALS.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR THEM TO ENJOY THE DAY.

AND AT THE SAME TIME WE WANT TO OFFER WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS QUALITY HOSPITALITY PRODUCT THAT IS RIGHT ON THE RACETRACK.

IT IS A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

>> Jeff: BEFORE WE GO, WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE HORSES BEEN AN ISSUE NATIONWIDE BOTH SCANDALS ABOUT DRUG USE AND ALSO BREAKDOWNS AND ANIMALS BEING INJURED.

THIS HAS A REPUTATION AND HISTORY OF BEING A RELATIVELY SAFE SURFACE.

AND YOU'RE HOPING TO MAINTAIN THAT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

WE PUT EVERY RESOURCES WE CAN INTO MAKING THIS A CONSISTENT RACETRACK FOR ALL THE HORSES AND THAT IS LITERALLY OUR TOP PRIORITY.

WE BRING IN VETS AND RESOURCES ESPECIALLY AROUND OUR MEET ANYTIME EVEN AT LAUREL WHILE WE ARE THERE.

HORSES GET CHECKED IN THE MORNINGS AND THE AFTERNOONS.

WE ARE UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE HORSERACING INTEGRITY AND SAFETY ACT.

THERE IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT KEEPS OUT FOR THAT.

WE WILL MONITOR AND KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST IN SAFETY TRENDS.

>> Jeff: BILL KNAUF IT'S GREAT MEETING YOU AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST ON PREAKNESS DAY.

>> SAME HERE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEFF.

[♪♪] >> Jeff: OUR NEWSMAKER THIS WEEK IS EMILY KELLER, MARYLAND'S SPECIAL SECRETARY OF OPIOID RESPONSE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE GOOD NEWS RELATIVELY SPEAKING TO TALK ABOUT WHICH IS SOMEWHAT UNCOMMON IN YOUR FIELD.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS ABOUT TRENDS IN OVERDOSE DEATHS.

WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE?

>> WELL, THANKFULLY WE ARE SEEING A DECREASE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

RIGHT NOW IT'S LOOKING LIKE FROM 2024 COMPARED TO 2023 WE ARE DOWN 29.7%.

AND THAT'S A VERY LARGE NUMBER AND A LOT OF LIVES THAT WE DID NOT LOSE LAST YEAR.

WE ARE LOOKING TO CONTINUE THAT TREND FOR SURE.

>> Jeff: I KNOW THE PEAK OF THE PROBLEM WAS 2021 WHICH OF COURSE WAS EARLY PANDEMIC.

BUT IT WASN'T NECESSARILY A PANDEMIC THING BECAUSE THE NUMBERS HAD BEEN GETTING BAD FOR A FEW YEARS BEFORE THAT.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK DROVE THE BIG INCREASE AND HOPEFULLY A SUSTAINABLE CHANGE IN THAT?

>> I THINK THE BIG INCREASE WAS THE ISOLATION OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE WERE ALONE.

PEOPLE WERE LONELY.

THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES WERE DISRUPTED.

SO ANYTIME SOMEONE IS FACING TRAUMA ALREADY, THAT ISOLATION PIECE CAN REALLY BE DETRIMENTAL SAW THAT IN THE OVERDOSE NUMBERS.

THE DECREASES WE'RE SEEING NOW MARYLAND HAS LED THE WAY MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO NALOXONE.

WE ENCOURAGE EVERY MARYLANDER TO CARRY NALOXONE IT IS THE NUMBER ONE LIFE SAVING TOOL.

WE'VE SEEN THE IMPACTS OF SATURATING WITH NALOXONE AND NARCAN.

>> Jeff: IT'S KNOWN AS THE ANTIDOTE.

A MIRACULOUS ANTIDOTE THAT CAN SAVE LIVES AND HOPEFULLY GET SOMEBODY STARTED ON THE TREATMENT TRACK.

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT ENABLES BREATHING.

IF SOMEONE IS EXPERIENCING AN OVERDOSE THEY LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO BREATHE ADMINISTERING NARCAN IT DOES ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE BREATHING WHICH IS PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.

AND THEN IF THAT PERSON IS READY TO GO GET TREATMENT THEY HAVE INTERACTIONS WITH EMS PROVIDERS OR PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS AND THEY CAN GO DOWN THAT PATH.

>> Jeff: THIS IS A STATE-WIDE PROBLEM AS YOU KNOW, YOU WERE THE MAYOR OF HAGERSTOWN WHEN GOVERNOR MOORE APPOINTED YOU TO THIS STATE-WIDE POSITION.

AND YOUR TIME IN POLITICS IF I RECALL WAS CONNECTED TO THE OVERDOSE DEATH OF A FRIEND OF YOURS.

AND THAT TRAGEDY CLEARLY POINTS OUT THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE PRECONCEPTIONS ABOUT WHERE THE PROBLEM IS FOCUSED.

IT'S FOCUSED EVERYWHERE, RIGHT?

>> IT IS.

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU OR ME ANY DEMOGRAPHIC ANY AREA IT CAN JUST HAPPEN.

AND I THINK WE ARE DOING BETTER WITH THAT STIGMA.

10 YEARS AGO, PEOPLE LOOKED AT SOMEONE WHO USED DRUGS A CERTAIN WAY.

AND NOW WE'RE ALL UNDERSTANDING THAT IT JUST HAPPENS TO EVERYONE.

>> Jeff: RIGHT.

BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE UNFORTUNATELY, DIRECT EXPERIENCES WITH IT, WITH FRIENDS WITH WITH FAMILY.

IS IT MOSTLY ABOUT FENTANYL AT LEAST THE FATAL OVERDOSES?

>> WE ARE SEEING FENTANYL IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE OVERDOSES HERE IN MARYLAND.

WE ARE ALSO SEEING COCAINE OVERDOSES A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE INCLUDING FENTANYL.

SO PEOPLE WHO ARE HABITUAL COCAINE USES ARE SEEING FENTANYL MIXED WITH THEIR DRUGS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS LIKE WE SAW A DECREASE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS WE DID SEE A DECREASE IN FENTANYL AND COCAINE.

>> Jeff: ARE THERE ANY SIGNS THAT THE FEDERAL EFFORTS ONBOARDER SECURITY AND DRUG INTERDECISION HAVE BEEN HELPING WITH THE RECENT TRENDS?

>> THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

THERE IS A LOT OF MIXED DATA ABOUT THAT.

OF COURSE WE DON'T WANT DRUGS IN OUR COUNTRY.

BUT, I THINK, PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO USE DRUGS AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE HAD TO COME TO TERMS WITH.

IT'S HAPPENED FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

SO IF FENTANYL IS NOT THE DRUG OF CHOICE IN THE COUNTRY NEXT YEAR, IT COULD BE SOMETHING ELSE.

SO WE HAVE TO REALLY WATCH THE ILLICIT DRUG TRENDS AND CATER OUTREACH EFFORTS TO WHAT IS NEXT.

>> Jeff: YOU PUBLISHED A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE STATE.

WHAT ARE THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THAT?

>> WE ARE FOCUSING ON FIVE PRIORITY AREAS.

THEY ARE PREVENTION, TREATMENT, RECOVERY, HARM REDUCTION AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO WE COMPILED THE PLAN THROUGH ALL 24 JURISDICTIONS WE DID TOWN HALLS TO HEAR FROM LOCAL CITIZENS, LOCAL TREATMENT PROVIDERS, HOSPITALS.

WE ALSO USED INFORMATION FROM THE MOORE ACT COMMUNITY.

IT'S CHAIRED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND IT INCLUDES 18 STATE AGENCIES.

SO EVERYONE THAT HAS A HAND IN THIS WE HEARD WHAT THEIR DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING AND THEN CAME UP WITH A STRATEGIC PLAN SO WE'RE ALL SINGING FROM THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC.

>> Jeff: HOW HAS THE SHEET OF MUSIC CHANGED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS?

>> IT HAS CHANGED.

WE ARE PUTTING A BIG FOCUS ON HARM REDUCTION.

AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE REDUCING HARM.

MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO NALOXONE AND SYRINGE SERVICE PROGRAMS SO PEOPLE HAVE SAFE SUPPLIES.

INTEGRATING PEERS INTO SETTINGS.

PEERS ARE PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE.

PEOPLE WHO HAD SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER THEY CAN TALK THE TALK WITH SOMEONE WHO IS EXPERIENCING WHAT THEY USED TO EXPERIENCE.

AND MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS TO CARE.

SO WHEN SOMEONE SAYS I'M READY TO GET TREATMENT THEY HAVE THE TRUSTED FRIEND, A TRUSTED RESOURCE THAT THEY KNOW TREATS THEM WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND DOESN'T STIGMATIZE THEM.

>> Jeff: WITHIN THE UMBRELLA OF HARM REDUCTION, WOULD THINGS LIKE NEEDLE EXCHANGE, AND I DONE'S WANT TO SAY SPONSORED, BUT SAFE INJECTION SITES FALL UNDER THAT?

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU SUPPORT?

>> SYRINGE SERVICE PROGRAMS WE DO HAVE SEVERAL OF THEM IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

ALMOST EVERY JURISDICTION HAS A SYRINGE SERVICE PROGRAM.

YOU CAN GO AND GET STERILE INJECTION EQUIPMENT.

AS FAR AS OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITES WHICH LARGELY BEEN KNOWN AS SAFE INJECTION SITES THERE ARE NONE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

THERE ARE TWO IN NEW YORK, RHODE ISLAND APPROVED ONE AND ANOTHER STATE DID AS WELL.

SO RIGHT NOW ALL THE DATA THAT WE HAVE CAME FROM OTHER COUNTRIES THAT HAVE DONE SAFE USE SITES FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

AND NOW WE'RE GETTING DATA FROM NEW YORK TO SEE IF AND HOW IT CHANGES THE LANDSCAPE FOR PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT THE OPIOID RESTITUTION FUND WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM AND WHERE DOES IT GO?

>> THE OPIOID RESTITUTION MONEY IS FROM THE MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS THAT DID HARM IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE KNOW PURDUE PHARMA WAS MARKETING OXYCONTIN AND NOW MANY JURISDICTIONS ARE SUING THEM.

THERE'S 10,000 LAWSUITS AGAINST A LOT OF THESE COMPANIES.

MARYLAND IS RECEIVING CLOSE TO $500 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 16 OR 17 YEARS AND THAT NUMBER HOPEFULLY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AS MORE SETTLEMENTS ARE SETTLED.

WE DO 70% OF THE MONEY THAT MARYLAND RECEIVED IS GOING DIRECT TO THE SUBDIVISIONS IT SUED.

THE JURISDICTIONS AND THE MUNICIPALITIES.

ANOTHER 15% WE CAN PUT OUT IN COMPETITIVE GRANTS AND 15% IS UP TO THE STATE'S DISCRETION.

A LARGE MAJORITY OF THAT MONEY IS GOING DIRECTLY INTO THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE AFFECTED.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE AVAILABILITY OF TREATMENT RIGHT NOW?

>> IT IS IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY.

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION ACTUALLY ON THEIR WEBSITE NOW ON MARYLAND.GOV HAS A TOOL THAT YOU CAN ACCESS TO SEE WHAT TREATMENT BEDS ARE AVAILABLE AND IF YOU WANT TO STAY CLOSE TO HOME WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR JURISDICTION.

THE LANDSCAPE OF TREATMENT IN MARYLAND HAS INCREASED IN A POSITIVE WAY.

>> Jeff: IF SOMEBODY WATCHING UNFORTUNATELY HAS A RELATIVE, HAS A FRIEND WHO HAS AN ADDICTION PROBLEM, WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP THAT YOU TAKE?

>> I ALWAYS SUGGEST REACHING OUT TO THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THEY DO HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES THEY CAN HELP MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS TO CARE.

YOU CAN ALSO CALL OR TEXT 9-8-8 THE CRISIS HOTLINE FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

WHETHER IT IS A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, A SUBSTANCE USE CRISIS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ANYTHING.

AND THAT IS GOOD FOR OUR YOUNG FOLKS.

WE KNOW THAT YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ON THE PHONE SO THEY ARE ABLE TO TEXT AND GET THE CONNECTIONS TO CARE.

>> Jeff: ANY OTHER DRUG TRENDS THAT YOU WOULD WANT PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF?

I'VE READ OF LIKE SOME ANIMAL TRANQUILIZER BEING MIXED WITH COCAINE OR FENTANYL, BUT IS SHOWING UP IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WOULDN'T EXPECT IT.

>> YES.

XYLAZINE HAS BEEN A BIG ONE.

WE ARE SEEING SOME DECREASES BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING A PRODUCT CALLED MET TOMORROW DEAN.

BOTH ARE ANIMAL TRANQUILIZER.

THE THING WITH XYLAZINE IT PROLONGS THE HIGH IF WHEN IT'S MIXED WITH FENTANYL.

IT WAS APPEALING AT FIRST.

BUT NOW IT'S CAUSING HORRIFIC WOUNDS BECAUSE THE DRUG HAS NOT BEEN STUDIED IN HUMANS BEFORE.

WE'RE SEEING THE OUTCOME IS CAUSING WOUNDS THAT CAN LEAD TO AMPUTATION.

NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT WE ARE SEEING A DECREASE IN THAT SUBSTANCE BEING IN OUR DRUGS WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

IMAGINE BEING READY TO GO TO TREATMENT AND THEN HAVING A WOUND SO SEVERE YOU HAVE TO GO TO A HOSPITAL INSTEAD.

IT COMPLICATES AN ALREADY COMPLICATED PROCESS.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO SECRETARY KELLER.

NOW, AFTER A DIFFICULT BUDGET PROCESS, MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES ARE BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF AS NANCY AMATA REPORTS.

>> ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT MARYLAND DATA, OVER ONE-THIRD OF ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE STATE REPORT DOING PERSISTENTLY SAY ARE HOPELESS.

>> THE FINDINGS ARE TROUBLING FOR DAN MARTIN THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY AT THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND.

>> NEARLY ONE IN FIVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND ONE IN FOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORTED SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING SUICIDE WITHIN THE PAST YEAR.

>> THAT IS WHY HE AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE RELIEVED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION LAWMAKERS DECIDED AGAINST A DRASTIC CUT IN FUNDING FOR SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT BEGAN IN 2020 AS THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE.

>> BECAUSE OF THIS FUNDING THERE ARE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS PROFESSIONALS AVAILABLE IN SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOING TO TALK TO THAT YOUTH ABOUT WHAT IS IT THEY ARE FEELING.

WHAT KIND OF TRAUMA THEY MAYBE FACING.

TALK TO THEM ABOUT TECHNIQUES FOR ADDRESSING AND COPING WITH THE TRAUMA.

>> I THINK A LOT OF THE KIDS ARE FEELING INCREASED ANXIETY, A SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS AND HELPLESSNESS.

THEY ARE FEELING DEPRESSION FOR SURE.

>> CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST SAYS MANY ARE FEELING A SENSE OF ISOLATION.

IRONICALLY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> IT'S OUR WAY OF CONNECTING AND GETTING OUR ENTERTAINMENT, YOU CAN SAY.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS A DISCONNECT BECAUSE IT MAKES US LONG FOR THAT FASHION OR THAT MANY LIKES OR THAT MUCH ATTENTION.

>> SHE BELIEVES CURRENT EVENTS AND POLITICS CAN AFFECT KIDS AS MUCH AS THEIR PARENTS.

>> THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS THEIR PLACE AND DO THEY HAVE ANY KIND OF VOICE IN WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO YOUNG TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY HEAR ABOUT THINGS, THEY ARE SEEING ADULTS FIGHTING ALL THE TIME THAT AFFECTS THEIR SENSE OF SAFETY.

>> PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH.

>> I THINK WHAT WE REALLY HELP IS A SENSE OF CONNECTION.

THEY ARE LONGING FOR A SENSE OF CONNECTION BUT IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO REACH OUT.

IF YOU SEE YOUR CHILD IS ON SOCIAL MEDIA A LOT, THERE ARE DIFFERENT IDEAS HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD LIMIT YOUR CHILD WITH SOCIAL MEDIA TRYING TO GET IN TALK TIME WITH THE CHILD.

ASK QUESTIONS HOW ARE THINGS GOING?

WHAT IS YOUR FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE LIKE?

STAY INVOLVED IN YOUR CHILD'S LIFE AND ATTEND EVENTS THEY ARE INTERESTED IN.

THOSE THINGS DO REALLY MATTER.

THEY SEE IT.

>> I'M NANCY AMATA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: FINALLY THIS WEEK, TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY WHERE MEMBERS OF THE SCOTLAND AME ZION CHURCH MARKED THE COMPLETION OF THE HISTORIC CHURCH'S RESTORATION AND EXPANSION PROJECT.

>> THIS IS A COMMUNITY PROJECT DON'T EVER THINK FOR ONE MOMENT THAT THIS IS THE CHURCH'S PROJECT.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY PROJECT.

[APPLAUSE] >> Jeff: HE ADDED THIS CHURCH HAS BEEN A BEACON OF FAITH, HOPE AND JUSTICE FOR OVER A CENTURY.

THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE WAS NEARLY DESTROYED BY A FLOOD IN THE SUMMER OF 2019.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES THAT NEVER CAME TO FRUITION.

BUT I KNEW THAT THIS BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY AND BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS HIS HAND ON HELPING TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.

>> THE PLACE FOR THE NEW CHAPTERS IN THE HISTORY OF THIS CONTINENT AME ZION CHURCH.

>> Jeff: ESTABLISHED IN 1905, SCOTLAND ZION AME CHURCH HELD SERVICES IN A PRIVATE HOME BEFORE OPENING THE DOORS IN 1924.

OVER THE DECADES, THE CHURCH BECAME A CORNERSTONE FOR THE HISTORICALLY BLACK SCOTLAND COMMUNITY.

>> SCOTLAND HAS BECOME OUR SCOTLAND.

OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO LIFT UP A COMMUNITY THAT OUR COUNTY AND OUR REGION HAVE BEEN COMPLICIT IN PUSHING DOWN.

IN FIGURING OUT A WAY TO CHANNEL THE RAIN THAT HAD BEEN PLACED IN WAYS THAT FLOODED THIS PLACE, NOT BY DECISIONS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN HERE ALL ALONG BUT THE STRANGLE-HOLD AROUND THEM.

THE INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND THE DECISION AFTER DECISION AFTER DECISION THAT FLOODED THIS PLACE AND ALMOST WIPED IT OFF THE EARTH.

AT A TIME WHEN BLACK HISTORY IS UNDER ASSAULT, THIS TIME WE INSURED HERE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, THIS HISTORY WOULDN'T BE FORGOTTEN.

>> Jeff: THE NEWLY RESTORED CHURCH IS DESIGNED TO LAST ANOTHER CENTURY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT SCOTLAND AME ZION.ORG; AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

[♪♪]