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Ideal Option Hosts Open House & Community Forum on the Fentanyl Crisis

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FREDERICK, Md. (PRWEB)

Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for addiction will host an open house and community forum at their clinic in Frederick on November 11th. Community-based organizations, city officials, and concerned citizens will come together from across Frederick County to recognize Veterans Day and discuss fentanyl, the new driver behind the opioid crisis.

According to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, veterans with opioid use disorder (OUD) who do not receive treatment with buprenorphine are four times more likely to die by suicide or overdose than those who do take the medication. The most dangerous opioid is fentanyl, a plentiful, inexpensive synthetic drug that has shown to be 50 times more potent than heroin. Many illicit substances such as heroin, pain pills, and even marijuana are now commonly laced with fentanyl, often without the knowledge of the user. Since the beginning of 2020, Frederick County has lost more than 65 people to fatal opioid overdoses. Most of those deaths involved fentanyl, according to CRISP, the designated Health Information Exchange (HIE) for Maryland.

Ideal Option’s 2020 Annual Patient Outcomes Report based on lab data collected at enrollment from more than 1,200 MD State Medicaid patients showed a 158% increase in fentanyl use as 2020 progressed.

On Thursday, November 11, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., all members of the community are invited to gather at the Ideal Option clinic located at 201 Thomas Johnson Dr., Suite #104, for this special event.

The event will kick off with an open house from 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. where attendees can enjoy refreshments and learn more about community resources for addiction, as well as meet Ideal Option’s newest provider, Charlene Busman, MS, RN, ANP-BC.

At 6:30 p.m., Mayor Michael O’Connor will give an opening address, talk about the opioid crisis in Frederick and introduce the following speakers:


  • Charles Jenkins, Sheriff, Frederick County

  • Sean Nicholson, Director of Community and Business Relations, The Orenda Center of Wellness

  • Shannon Garrett, LMSW, LCADC, Licensed Therapist/Director of Marketing, Congruent Counseling Services

  • Mark Donovan, LCPC, LCADC, CEO/Chief Clinical Officer/Licensed Therapist, Congruent Counseling Services

  • Carin Miller, CPRS, CRC, Peer Recovery Support Specialist, Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling

  • Charlene Busman, MS, RN, ANP-BC, Addiction Medicine Provider, Ideal Option

  • Chloe Nichols, CRNP, Addiction Medicine Provider, Ideal Option

The community forum will be followed by a Q&A and networking with refreshments served.

For questions about this event, email Senior Marketing Manager Olivia Easly at oliviaeasly@idealoption.net.

About Ideal Option

Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option was founded in 2012 and has since helped nearly 50,000 patients through a network of over 70 office-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinics across 10 states. With a mission to serve under-served communities, Ideal Option accepts all forms of insurance including Medicaid and Medicare. Financial assistance and payment plans are also available.

Ideal Option’s team of medical providers carry certifications in Addiction and Emergency Medicine, Internal, OB/GYN, and Family Medicine, among other specialties. The company also employs social workers, caseworkers, counselors, and mental health practitioners. This holistic approach helps drive positive outcomes, including family stability, stable housing, improved overall health, and reduced rates of recidivism.

In all the communities it serves, Ideal Option collaborates with existing stakeholders and providers to improve the continuum of care. This approach includes partnerships with emergency rooms and county jail systems, where individuals with substance use disorder often appear, as well as collaborating with numerous support agencies and municipal programs addressing social needs such as housing, mental health, and nutrition support.

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