Allen is picked to lead opioid council
“Barbara is very, very action-oriented and she gets the sense ofurgency,”said Joanie Elder, who in 2004 co-founded Donleigh House in Columbia with her husband,Mike, to rent affordable rooms to men in recovery.
“She’s the right person for this job because she’s not afraid tostep ontoes,”
Elder said. “And she won’t table any necessary action till the next month’s meetingbecauseshe knowsthat every delay means lives lost.”
Aside from running her nonprofit, Allen co-chairs Maryland’s Behavioral Health Advisory Counciland also serves on the county’s Opioid Intervention Team and on the board ofThe Compassionate Friends,a support organization for people dealing with grief.
Allen said her firstbrush with drug use occurred in Arizona when her son tried marijuana at age13. Jimmywas 35 whena drug and alcohol overdose claimed his life.
In the intervening 22 years, heunder- went treatment multiple times inArizona, New Hampshire and Howard County, she said.
Allen said she repeatedly demandedof her son that he confront his demons head on and stood by him throughout each ordeal.
“He did really well each time,but Inever felt he beat it and Inever relaxed,” she recalled.
Jimmysuccumbed after two decades of ups and downs,she said.
“I went through aperiod offeeling like I wasaloser because Icouldn’tsavemyson,”
Allen recalled. “Until you’ve sat where I’ve sat,you don’t realize that grief support is so critical to people who feel like there’s this freaking hole and it’s unfillable.”
Though Allen felt she was educated about fighting the disease, after her son’s death she came torealize she“didn’t have a clue about the laws.” In 2005,she cameacross areport titled, “After the War on Drugs” that introduced her to harm reduction methods, such as needle exchanges and access to naloxone,a synthetic drug administered to reverse the effects of opioids. It is also known by its brand name,Narcan.
“I got incredibly hungry to know more,” she said. “I still keep learning and asking questions.”
Nancy Rosen-Cohen, executive director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Maryland, recalled her first impression of Allen,whom she met in 2011.
“Barbara came to us with a host of knowledge and the ability to listen and absorb,” Rosen-Cohen said.
“She is well-respected across Maryland and known as an outspoken advocate, and she has become adriving force in Howard County,” she said.
Elder said one of Allen’s many strengths is her way with people.
“Barbara can get people to feel as passionate as she does,” Elder said, adding that’s ahigh bar for anyone to reach. “This is not ajob for her, it’s her calling.” janeneholzberg76@gmail.com
“She’s the right person for this job because she’s not afraid tostep ontoes,”
Elder said. “And she won’t table any necessary action till the next month’s meetingbecauseshe knowsthat every delay means lives lost.”
Aside from running her nonprofit, Allen co-chairs Maryland’s Behavioral Health Advisory Counciland also serves on the county’s Opioid Intervention Team and on the board ofThe Compassionate Friends,a support organization for people dealing with grief.
Allen said her firstbrush with drug use occurred in Arizona when her son tried marijuana at age13. Jimmywas 35 whena drug and alcohol overdose claimed his life.
In the intervening 22 years, heunder- went treatment multiple times inArizona, New Hampshire and Howard County, she said.
Allen said she repeatedly demandedof her son that he confront his demons head on and stood by him throughout each ordeal.
“He did really well each time,but Inever felt he beat it and Inever relaxed,” she recalled.
Jimmysuccumbed after two decades of ups and downs,she said.
“I went through aperiod offeeling like I wasaloser because Icouldn’tsavemyson,”
Allen recalled. “Until you’ve sat where I’ve sat,you don’t realize that grief support is so critical to people who feel like there’s this freaking hole and it’s unfillable.”
Though Allen felt she was educated about fighting the disease, after her son’s death she came torealize she“didn’t have a clue about the laws.” In 2005,she cameacross areport titled, “After the War on Drugs” that introduced her to harm reduction methods, such as needle exchanges and access to naloxone,a synthetic drug administered to reverse the effects of opioids. It is also known by its brand name,Narcan.
“I got incredibly hungry to know more,” she said. “I still keep learning and asking questions.”
Nancy Rosen-Cohen, executive director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Maryland, recalled her first impression of Allen,whom she met in 2011.
“Barbara came to us with a host of knowledge and the ability to listen and absorb,” Rosen-Cohen said.
“She is well-respected across Maryland and known as an outspoken advocate, and she has become adriving force in Howard County,” she said.
Elder said one of Allen’s many strengths is her way with people.
“Barbara can get people to feel as passionate as she does,” Elder said, adding that’s ahigh bar for anyone to reach. “This is not ajob for her, it’s her calling.” janeneholzberg76@gmail.com
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