March 31st, 2016 by WCBC Radio
Drug courts have been established throughout much of Maryland in recent years- but not so far in Allegany County. That is a situation Allegany County State’s Attorney Michael Twigg wants to see changed. Twigg is asking for a drug court in the county to help lower crime by combating the growing substance abuse problem. Addressing the county commissioners at a recent budget hearing, Twigg reported that 86 opiate-related overdoses have occurred in Allegany County since Dec. 1, with 15 resulting in death. Drug court is a community based effort to keep addicts out of the legal system by treating their addictions. Headed by a circuit court judge with a team of prosecutors, health officials and social workers, a drug court focuses on treating non-violent criminal offenders suffering from alcohol and substance abuse problems in order to keep drug-related crime down. Twigg says given the growing drug problem in the county, it only makes sense to create a drug court…