Thousands died from drug overdoses in Maryland, but fatalities declined slightly

Bethany Raja, WYPR

Published 9/1/2022 3:16 p.m. EDT, Updated 9/14/2022 11:11 a.m. EDT

A fentanyl test strip is used to detect fentanyl in a drug sample. Such test strips cost about $1 apiece. Jesse Costa/WBUR.
A fentanyl test strip is used to detect the drug in a sample. Such test strips cost about $1 apiece. Jesse Costa/WBUR.

Advocates across Maryland gathered on International Overdose Awareness Day to remember lives lost due to drugs and raise awareness to prevent more deaths. There were more than 2,600 fatal overdoses across Maryland in the past 12 months ending this April, down from roughly 2,900 from the same time frame in 2021. The vast majority of overdose deaths stemmed from fentanyl, Maryland Department of Health data shows.

Behavioral Health System Baltimore is one organization working to prevent overdoses across Baltimore City. Its outreach arm, Bmore Power, launched a campaign urging people to “go slow” if they still choose to use drugs because fentanyl is so prevalent and powerful compared to heroin.

Read more and listen to the story at wypr.org.

braja@wypr.org

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