Harm Reduction & Drug Policy
Baltimore's windfall of restitution funds isn't as much as you think
Baltimore is slated to receive $580 million total in restitution funds after the city accepted an offer from the judge in the case against McKesson and AmerisourceBergen. That seems like a lot of money — until you put it in context.
As Trump targets Baltimore’s unsheltered population and harm reduction funding, Mayor Scott offers many words, few actions
Mayor Brandon Scott has appeared on national television five times this week to rebut Trump’s lies about violent crime, but he still hasn’t detailed a plan to protect Baltimoreans dealing with homelessness and substance use disorder.
Maryland is without any harm reduction training program after dropping Baltimore nonprofit
Since July 1, there has been no organization helming the Maryland Department of Health’s statewide harm reduction training program, and all harm reduction training modules have been scrubbed from the internet.
Dollar signs and discourse mean nothing without decisive action on OD crisis
The influx of public discourse about Baltimore's overdose crisis has been a welcome and undoubtedly positive change. Yet without action, those who use drugs will continue to die at astronomical rates.
Baltimore takes Trump's lead by escalating drug war after mass OD event
Baltimore is expanding an anti-violence program that hinges upon drug busts and lofty charges for those caught up in the mess. It fits nicely into a broader push for a more militarized approach to drug policy.
As mayor’s administration tiptoes around overdose prevention centers, Councilman Dorsey says they’re needed now
Though Mayor Scott has the authority to unilaterally impose measures such as OPCs, he has repeatedly declined to comment on the matter despite naming them a “legislative priority” this year.
In Baltimore's drug war, 'public safety' comes before public health. Nearly all of those impacted are Black
City officials have found themselves unable — or unwilling — to let go of punitive drug enforcement and the millions of dollars it takes to bankroll the cops who carry it out.
BPD pleads for money to fuel drug-war policing as health department faces budget cuts
As it does every year, the Baltimore Police Department asked for an increase in funding this week, in part to fund drug enforcement efforts. Yet its tactics exacerbate the overdose crisis at a time when public health funding could be upended.
In OD crisis talks, Sen. Alsobrooks brings moderate politics to a fight demanding progressive reforms
U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks has positioned herself as a moderate Democrat who will fight to prevent cuts to Medicaid and other public health services. Yet her politics may not meet the calls for more ambitious reforms.
Baltimore's harm reduction movement doesn't back down — but a larger coalition must form
Harm reductionists have joined the city's Opioid Restitution Advisory Board in fighting to ensure that a windfall of funds from opioid lawsuits is allocated in the best interest of those who use drugs. More Baltimoreans must show up.
As Baltimore battles overdose crisis and hosts East Coast’s largest addiction conference, harm reduction practices shine
Harm reduction has only grown in popularity in the U.S. and internationally — on the same day as the conference in Baltimore, roughly 1,000 people attended the Harm Reduction International Conference in Bogotá, Colombia.
Baltimore officials love a good drug bust, but they can be deadly for drug users
Mayor Brandon Scott and law enforcement officials touted the takedown of a drug trafficking organization. The busts may not be a good thing for those who use drugs in Baltimore.