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.

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