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.

Mayor Scott touts harm reduction initiatives, plans for OD crisis in report highlighting his first term

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.

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.

Income, education are strongest factors in exposure to overdoses in Baltimore area, JHU study finds

Overdose Awareness Day in the epicenter of the crisis

In an epoch defined by the proliferation of fentanyl, the city health department's efforts are invaluable.

Baltimore is making progress in its opioid remediation efforts, but death is still commonplace