UM Shore Regional Health will be part of the county-wide campaign, Talbot Goes Purple, in 
September.
The evergreen tree in front of the hospital will be spot-lit purple for the month of September and all team members are encouraged to heighten their awareness of the opioid epidemic. A special “WEAR PURPLE TO WORK DAY” for UM SRH team members is set for TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19.
Talbot Goes Purple is an initiative from the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office and Tidewater Rotary designed to empower local youth and the community at large to ‘Go Purple’ as a sign of taking a stand against substance abuse. The project promotes education and awareness, including the creation of purple clubs in our high schools, through which students learn that they do not need drugs or alcohol to meet life’s challenges. The project also encourages the ‘new conversation’ between teens and parents, one that includes messages that prescription painkillers aren’t safe to use recreationally.
According to Talbot Goes Purple organizers Talbot County Sheriff Joe Gamble and Lucie Hughes, of Tidewater Rotary, in a recent editorial published Talbot Spy, “Our stark reality is that we’re in the middle of the deadliest drug epidemic in our history and much of it starts with improper use of prescription painkillers. We’ve got to start teaching our kids these bills are basically synthetic heroin and misuse WILL lead to heroin dependency.”
Talbot Goes Purple is based upon THP Project Purple, an initiative of the Herren Project that helps people struggling with drug dependencies. Former NBA player Chris Herren founded both projects after speaking to a high school about his struggles with drug dependency.
Herren is coming to Talbot County for a community event at 7 p.m., September 19 at Easton High School, with two in-school assemblies also set for all County students grades 8 through 12. Leading up to Herren’s visit and throughout September, local businesses and communities will ‘Go Purple’ as a show of support and solidarity in addressing our substance abuse problem.
Talbot Goes Purple is in partnership with Talbot County Public Schools, Mid-Shore Community Foundation and Talbot Partnership. Generous support for the project at the ‘purple’ level includes: Mariah’s Mission Fund; Aqua Pools & Spas and The Car Pool; St. John’s Foundation; Bryan Brother’s Foundation; Spring & Associations; West & Callahan; and the Michael & Nancy Klein Foundation.
Here’s how you can join Talbot Goes Purple in standing up against substance abuse:
- Have the ‘new conversation’ with your kids.
- Learn about the Good Samaritan Law and tell your kids about it.
- Get trained on Naloxone, a life-saving medicine that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.
- Purchase purple lights from ED Supply in Easton, and light your home or property to show your support.
- Plan to WEAR PURPLE to work on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 – details to follow!