Dr. Drew Pinsky leads Drug Court Foundation fundraiser in Daphne

According to the Baldwin County Drug Court Foundation, 90% of crimes in Baldwin County are drug or alcohol related.

According to the Baldwin County Coroner's Office (BCCO), drug overdoses are the leading cause of unnatural deaths in the county. In the BCCO's annual report for fiscal year 2022-2023, over half of drug-related deaths were related to fentanyl.

August 21 was National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 200 people die each day nationwide from overdoses of synthetic opioids, such as illegally manufactured fentanyl. Fentanyl is often mixed with drugs such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine and can be made into pills that resemble other prescription opioids.

Highway 59 is a corridor for drug-related activity and crime, with most drugs coming from the Pensacola area, according to the sheriff's office.

The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences' Mobile Regional Laboratory serves eight counties in south Alabama, including Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington. This is one laboratory that tests drugs and other forensic evidence for eight counties. Because Mobile is the second largest county by population and Baldwin County is the fourth largest, most arrests for drug possession or trafficking can take up to two years to receive results due to the high caseload. Some users and dealers are released on bail before they are brought to court or receive the help they need, while others are exposed to drugs for approximately 730 days.

To combat this problem, the foundation is hosting a fundraiser on Tuesday, October 1, at the Daphne Civic Center featuring Drew Pinsky, a nationally known addiction specialist and media personality. The event is open to the public and includes dinner provided by Naman's Catering. Local news anchor Chastity Byrd Riddick will serve as emcee.

Pinsky, known for his work on such shows as “Loveline,” “Teen Mom” ​​and “Celebrity Rehab,” will bring his expertise in addiction medicine to the fundraiser. His presence underscores the importance of the foundation's mission to reduce drug-related crime and promote drug education throughout Baldwin County.

Founded in 2007, the Baldwin County Drug Court Foundation helps addicts return to productive lives. The foundation's outreach efforts have reached more than 9,000 middle school students and highlighted that the average age for first drug use is 13.

During the event, attendees will learn about the foundation's treatment programs, its community outreach initiatives and its ongoing efforts to educate Baldwin County youth about the dangers of drug use. The event begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.baldwindrugcourt.com or by contacting Raina Macks at [email protected].