Not until 1886, however, were County responsibilities assigned. In that year, the Board of County Commissioners was designated as the Allegany County Board of Health (Chapter 22, Acts of 1886). In 1914, it was placed under control of the State Department of Health, which had organized in 1910 (Chapter 560, Acts of 1910; Chapter 742, Acts of 1914). Later, in 1922, as County health duties increased, opening the way for a full-time health officer in each county, Allegany County became the first to set up its own health department under provisions of the "County Health Law" (Chapter 116, Acts of 1922).
Today, the Health Department, under direction of the Health Officer, provides public health services and administers and enforces State and local health laws and regulations within Allegany County. Programs meet the public health needs of the community and provide services not offered by the private sector (Code Health-General Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-202).
Appointed by the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Health Officer is the executive officer and secretary of the County Board of Health (Code Health-General Article, secs. 3-301 through 3-310).
DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE COUNCIL
The Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council was authorized in 2004 (Chapters 237 & 238, Acts of 2004; Code Health-General Article, sec. 8-1001). The Council develops, submits to the Governor, and implements plans and strategies with which to evaluate, prevent, and treat alcohol and drug abuse in Allegany County.
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