Overdose Crisis
Mayor Scott says the state of the city is strong. Here's where the OD crisis stands
At Mayor Brandon Scott's State of the City address Monday, he lauded his administration's progress, including its efforts to address the overdose crisis. Yet despite a historic drop in deaths, there's more to the story.
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.
Petty politics in the epicenter of the OD crisis
Welcome to the first edition of the Mobtown Redux newsletter. Let's talk about some political theater.
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'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.
Baltimore City Council schedules four public hearings on overdose crisis
The Baltimore City Council will hold multiple public hearings about the overdose crisis. It will come months after The Long Haul detailed the unprecedented number of overdose deaths in the city.