Maryland took a major step forward in the fight against the opioid crisis with its first-ever Substance Use Awareness Advocacy Day on April 2. The event, held at Lawyer’s Mall, brought together community advocates, government officials, and public health leaders to spotlight progress and ongoing challenges in addressing substance use across the state.
Lieutenant Governor Aruna K. Miller and Special Secretary of Overdose Response Emily Keller led the day’s efforts, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to saving lives. “The battle is tough, but determination and action are making a real difference,” Miller said. “With support from our General Assembly partners, we’re transforming promises into progress.”
Following a peak in overdose deaths after the COVID-19 pandemic—with 2,800 fatalities in 2021, the highest in state history—Maryland has seen notable improvements. According to the Maryland Overdose Data Dashboard, overdose deaths fell to 1,648 in 2024, a 34.4% decrease from the previous year.
As part of its continued response, Maryland announced $12.4 million in new grants through the Opioid Restitution Fund. This is part of the larger $650 million expected from national opioid settlements over the next 20 years. To date, more than $118 million has already been distributed to local jurisdictions to fund prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
The event emphasized that while the numbers show progress, the work is far from over. State leaders, alongside community advocates, pledged to keep fighting to ensure more Marylanders have access to the resources and support they need.
