Bowie MD Non Profit Picked to Manage a New 24-Hour Substance Abuse Text Line to Combat Opioid Addiction

By: PRLog
Anyone in Maryland can text IWIK to 71441 and within minutes will connect with a call center operator. Texters can ask questions and get information anonymously.
BOWIE, Md. - Dec. 14, 2017 - PRLog -- The region's first substance abuse information text line launched today on Maryland's Eastern shore, offering an anonymous way for people to get information about treatment 24 hours a day.

The pilot project is the first of its kind and operates in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne and Talbot counties. Anyone can text IWIK to 71441 and within minutes will connect with a call center operator. Texters can ask questions and get information anonymously or provide contact information and have a treatment specialist follow-up for further help.

Funded through the Mid-Shore Opioid Misuse Prevention Program (OMPP) as part of its media campaign titled, 'I Wish I Knew' (IWIK), the text line aims to reduce barriers to treatment and help people understand the treatment process.

The IWIK program is based on a successful anti-bullying program, also on the eastern shore, which uses texting as a method for the youth to reach help. This resulted in Queen Anne's County leading the state in reducing bullying, drugs and other harmful activities in schools. This IWIK platform, like the Queen Anne's program, operates year-round — including nights, weekends and holidays when most substance use disorder services are closed and need is great.  Both texting programs are managed by Text 2 Stop It!, a non-profit company located in Bowie, Md.

"Our team has spent several years researching the opioid crisis here on the Mid-Shore, and we consistently found that people had a hard time getting information on treatment and often didn't know how to start the process," said Erin Hill, coordinator for the Mid-Shore OMPP. "We know that the younger demographic prefers texting over phone calls, so we knew this pilot program could really help connect people with life-saving services."

The Mid-Shore OMPP also includes a community coalition of more than 100 members including law enforcement, judges, healthcare industry representatives, concerned Mid-Shore residents and more. If you're interested in joining the coalition, please contact Erin Hill at erin.hill@maryland.gov.

For more information on Text 2 Stop It! contact alvinbutler@text2stopit.org.

Media Contact
Alvin Butler
Executive Director
***@text2stopit.org
202683-9022

Photos: (Click photo to enlarge)

Text 2 Stop It Logo

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