The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) is dedicated to preventing overdose deaths in Baltimore City. Opioid overdose is a public health crisis. In 2017, Baltimore City saw 761 drug and alcohol-related intoxication deaths, 692 of which were opioid-related. This is more than double the number of people who died of homicide. Baltimore City now has the highest overdose fatality rate of any city in the United States.

BCHD has a three-pronged strategy for combatting the opioid crisis:

1. Save lives with naloxone – When administered to an individual experiencing an overdose, this antidote medication can take them from near-death to walking and talking in a matter of minutes. The first step in fighting the opioid crisis is the acute response: saving lives today by getting naloxone into the hands of first responders and bystanders alike. Learn about our naloxone programs, including the State's standing order, where to get naloxone, how to get trained, and more here.

2. Increase access to on-demand, evidence-based treatment - BCHD endorses evidence-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT), along with social and wraparound services to treat the disease of opioid addiction. For more information on where to receive treatment, treatment programs and partnerships, and more, click here.

3. Fight the stigma of addiction through education - Addiction is a disease. Similar to heart disease, addiction is preventable and treatable. For more information on fighting the stigma of addiction and educational materials about addiction, click here. 

More Information:

• Data and Maps
• Opioid Intervention Team