About MarylandROPTA
Maryland Reinforcing Overdose Prevention through Training and Advocacy (ROPTA), formerly MarylandROTA, is an initiative of the University of Maryland Extension (UME) that offers no-cost, evidence-based programs to address the substance use and mental health challenges in Maryland.
In addition to outreach and educational materials, ROPTA offers
- Mental Health First Aid for Youth, Adults, Older Adults, and Rural Communities
- The Overdose Lifeline series, including The Opioid Public Health Crisis, The Brain and the Disease of Addiction, This is Not About Drugs, Removing the Shame and Stigma of Substance Use Disorder, and Guide to Harm Reduction
- The Regrounding Our Response training program developed by the Maryland Department of Health, which includes trainings on Stages of Change, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), Social Determinants of Health, and the Drug User Health Framework
- Generation RX, an all-ages, standardized educational initiative to promoting safe medication practices in an effort to prevent the misuse of prescription drugs
For youth-specific audiences, ROPTA recommends GenerationRX and This is Not About Drugs.
ROPTA also offers train-the-trainer opportunities for Mental Health First Aid to further enhance community capacity. These trainings help communities develop overdose prevention strategies that seek to address underlying problems, raise awareness, and develop crucial support networks.
Download the 2023 ROPTA Program Packet.
To schedule a free training or learn more about MarylandROPTA’s programs and services, email marylandropta@umd.edu. Stay updated about upcoming trainings by following MarylandROPTA on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and sign up for ROPTA's monthly newsletter here.
About ROPTA
MarylandROTA started in 2019 as a University of Maryland Extension (UME) initiative in collaboration with regional and national partners, MarylandROTA was a product of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) ROTA initiative. The MarylandROTA project aimed to increase Maryland’s rural capacity to identify, respond to, and address opioid-related prevention and education needs through Extension research and outreach. The SAMHSA-funded MarylandROTA initiative has since offered 360 free trainings, reaching 1,112 youth and 7,364 adults from all 23 Maryland jurisdictions and Baltimore City.
More information about the program can be found here.
Funded by Rural Health Safety Education Grant through National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
ROPTA Mission
- To leverage the existing University of Maryland Extension (UME) programs and system to enhance the ability of rural Maryland communities to identify, understand, and respond to the opioid epidemic.
- To serve rural communities throughout Maryland by increasing public awareness, understanding, and skills in order to respond to opioid misuse and decrease overdoses and deaths, which is in alignment with state goals.
Our Team
Partnerships
Within UMD, University of Maryland Extension (UME) has joined forces with the School of Public Health (SPH) and the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) to deliver evidence-based programs and trainings for the general public and practitioners in Western Maryland, the Upper Eastern Shore and the Middle/Lower Eastern Shore.
The external partners include MayaTech Corporation, the Maryland Rural Health Association, and the Mental Health Association of Maryland.
