Prevention and Education Services

Could you spot the signs of substance use in the workplace? Even when it takes place off-the-clock, substance use can take a heavy toll on workers’ productivity, health, and happiness.
Worcester County Health Department can provide material and training to help managers and owners understand the signs of addiction in employees and to connect those in need to local treatment resources.

 Do You Know the Signs?

• Excessive tardiness or absenteeism
• Changes in appearance
• Physical symptoms
• Mood changes
• Multiple trips to the bathroom

If you or someone you know struggles with substance use and needs help finding recovery resources,
dial 2-1-1 or call 410-213-0202.
Local treatment options are available through the Worcester Addictions Cooperative Service Center at 410-213-0202.

Binge drinking is the most common, costly, and deadly pattern of excessive alcohol use in the United States. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 grams percent or above. This typically happens when men consume 5 or more drinks or women consume 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours. Most people who binge drink are not alcohol dependent.

Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL. This typically occurs after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men—in about 2 hours.

1 in 6 adults binge drink.

Binge drinking is most common among younger adults aged 18–34 years, but more than half of the total binge drinks are consumed by those aged 35 and older.

Binge drinking has serious risks such as:

• Unintentional injuries such as car crashes, falls, burns, and alcohol poisoning.
• Violence including homicide, suicide, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault.
• Sexually transmitted diseases.
• Unintended pregnancy and poor pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage and stillbirth.
• Chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and liver disease.
• Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon.
• Memory and learning problems.
• Alcohol dependence.

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning:

• Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or the person cannot be roused
• Vomiting
• Slow or irregular breathing
• Hypothermia or low body temperature, bluish or pale skin

Alcohol poisoning can lead to permanent brain damage or death, so a person showing any of these signs requires immediate medical attention. Don’t wait. Call 911 if you suspect alcohol poisoning.
(Source: CDC)
(Source: NIH – National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)

Preventing Diabetes

Prediabetes is a health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Prediabetes is a result of your body not using or producing insulin the way it should.

Diabetes Education

Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy.

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)

The Worcester County Health Department provides Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT).

Eligibility includes the following: Must be a resident of Worcester County; have a diagnosis of Type I or Type 2 Diabetes; or have a diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease (non-dialysis) and/or Post Kidney Transplants within the last 36 months. Children with a diagnosis of pediatric obesity may also be eligible. A referral from the primary care provider is required.

This service provides nutrition therapy and counseling by a Maryland Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) for the purpose of disease management. MNT includes an in-depth individualized nutrition assessment utilizing evidence-based nutrition protocols, the American Dietetic Association MNT Evidence-Based Guidelines for practice, and best available data to assure a comprehensive intervention.

The LDN and client discuss and determine optimal health goals, a workable care plan and appropriate interventions to develop and implement behavior and lifestyle changes related to the nutrition problem and medical condition/disease.
The WCHD referral form should be completed and sent to the Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist. Contact with the client will be made by the LDN to set up an appointment at a WCHD site . The client must bring their ID, insurance card, and referral form with diagnostic codes from their primary care provider.

The initial MNT Session is 3 hours per calendar year in the first year. Follow up MNT is 2 hours per calendar year. 

Lifestyle Balance Program

What is the Lifestyle Balance Program? It is a year-long nutrition and physical activity program, meets weekly for 16 weeks and then continues with 6-7 monthly follow-up sessions. The program is designed for those with pre-diabetes. Provides incentives, educational materials, and personalized coaching. Team taught by CDC Certified Lifestyle Coaches including healthy educators and registered dietitian. Delivered throughout Worcester County.

Contact:

Snow Hill Health Center
Prevention Program
Phone:410-632-1100
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Take Diabetes to Heart

Click to image below to learn the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease and the steps you can take to reduce your risks. 

Healthy Lifestyles include services such as; Nutrition Counseling, Physical Activity Assessment, Chronic Disease Prevention, Just Walk and Worksite Wellness.

Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that contains close to 500 chemicals, including THC, a mind-altering compound that causes harmful health effects. People also smoke or eat different forms of marijuana extracts, which deliver a large amount of THC and can be potentially more dangerous.

Risks Include:

Brain Health: Marijuana can cause permanent IQ loss of as much as 8 points when people start using it at a young age. These IQ points do not come back, even after quitting marijuana.

Mental Health: Studies link marijuana use to depression, anxiety, suicide planning, and psychotic episodes. It is not known, however, if marijuana use is the cause of these conditions.

Athletic Performance: Research shows that marijuana affects timing, movement, and coordination, which can harm athletic performance.

Driving: People who drive under the influence of marijuana can experience dangerous effects: slower reactions, lane weaving, decreased coordination, and difficulty reacting to signals and sounds on the road.

Daily life: Using marijuana can affect performance and how well people do in life. Research shows that people who use marijuana are more likely to have relationship problems, worse educational outcomes, lower career achievement, and reduced life satisfaction.

(Source: SAMHSA)

Maryland’s Good Samaritan Law protects people assisting in an emergency overdose situation from arrest, as well as prosecution, for certain crimes.

The purpose of the law is to encourage any person, regardless of age, who experiences or observes a medical emergency caused by the ingestion or use of alcohol or other drugs to seek medical assistance without fear of arrest or prosecution for:

• Possessing or using a controlled dangerous substance
• Possessing or using drug paraphernalia
• Providing alcohol to minors

The Good Samaritan Law applies to any person who seeks, provides, or assists with the provision of medical assistance as the result of a person ingesting or using alcohol or drugs.

We provide parent education to a variety of families. We utilize evidence-based programs such as Nurturing Families, Nurturing Fathers, Co-Parenting, Parenting Wisely, Guiding Good Choices and Parenting Inside Out. Through these courses, we offer free tips, advice, stories, and guidance. Parenting can be a difficult job, but it can also be the most rewarding job you’ll ever have.

Colorectal Cancer Screening

Colonoscopy exam every 10 years at no cost to the eligible patient.  Must be a Worcester County Resident. Age 50-64 years, younger if at high risk; no health insurance or under-insured (including having a deductible); and meet income requirements

These services are provided by the Prevention Program.