Baltimore Beat
Lived experience is crucial in guiding Baltimore’s overdose crisis response, new board members say
Mayor Brandon Scott swore in 20 members of the city’s new Opioid Restitution Advisory Board last week, eight of whom were chosen because of their personal history with substance use disorder and overdose.
Baltimore OD deaths plummeted in 2024, but Black residents still bear the brunt of crisis
Data released by the Maryland Department of Health last week showed Baltimore recorded 680 deaths in 2024, a 35% decrease from the year prior.
Baltimore harm reduction orgs fear funding cuts, ramped-up drug war under Trump
“All of the moves this administration is talking about implementing spell death for the people we serve,” said Candy Kerr, spokesperson and policy advocate for the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition.
With Baltimore's legal saga almost over, public discourse about OD crisis may soon begin
Since this spring, Mayor Brandon Scott's administration has repeatedly refused to comment on matters related to drugs or the overdose crisis, citing ongoing litigation.
The Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition doesn't just save lives. It builds meaningful relationships
The Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition was formed in 2011, which predates the current fentanyl-driven overdose crisis. But harm reduction is a strategy and philosophy that extends to other vulnerable groups such as sex workers.
Baltimore's fatal overdose rate shows signs of slowing, prompting cautious optimism
The last time the city saw less than 800 deaths was in 2017, which preceded a pandemic-era surge in fatalities caused by the proliferation of fentanyl.
Nationwide bus tour visits Baltimore to promote hope, recovery as city combats OD crisis
The organization's stop in Baltimore, which was organized by the Maryland Peer Advisory Council, came as many who are struggling with addiction go without treatment because of barriers to access such as a lack of local facilities or inadequate finances.
Amid Baltimore's OD crisis, officials' silence will likely continue through Election Day
Neither Mayor Brandon Scott nor the 15 Democrats appearing on general election ballots for Baltimore City Council will answer questions about the overdose crisis.