Baltimore is in the midst of a worsening addiction crisis—and while harm reduction saves lives, many experts and advocates agree: it’s not enough.
In a recent report from Fox Baltimore, local leaders, outreach workers, and people in recovery highlighted the urgent need for expanded treatment options across the city. As overdoses continue to devastate Baltimore communities, the message is clear—harm reduction must be paired with access to quality, long-term addiction treatment.
What Is Harm Reduction—and Why Does It Matter?
Harm reduction refers to practical strategies aimed at reducing the negative effects of drug use without necessarily requiring abstinence. In Baltimore, this includes:
- Distributing Narcan (naloxone) to reverse overdoses
- Fentanyl test strips to help users avoid deadly batches
- Syringe exchange programs that prevent disease transmission
- Outreach teams offering basic needs and building trust
These approaches are proven to reduce harm, connect people to care, and save lives. At Hygea, we deeply support these interventions and applaud the organizations on the front lines—like Bmore POWER and the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition.
But as Fox Baltimore reports, harm reduction can’t stand alone.
Baltimore’s Growing Addiction Crisis
According to city data shared in the article, some Baltimore neighborhoods are experiencing dozens of fatal overdoses in a single ZIP code. In Penn North (21217), for example, 73 people lost their lives in the last year. While the city has seen a slight dip in overdose deaths overall, the crisis remains deeply rooted—especially in under-resourced communities.
The recent mass overdose on West Lexington Street, where 27 people overdosed at once, underscores how quickly a bad batch of fentanyl can spiral into tragedy. Fox Baltimore notes that outreach teams were on the scene immediately, offering Narcan and supplies. But many advocates—some in recovery themselves—say the real problem is the lack of treatment beds and affordable rehab programs.
Advocates Are Calling for More Treatment Options
In the Fox interview, Mike Gimbel, a longtime advocate in recovery, didn’t hold back:
“The demand for drug treatment beds is enormous… Harm reduction is important, but it only goes so far.”
We couldn’t agree more.
At Hygea, we believe harm reduction and treatment go hand-in-hand. People deserve more than survival—they deserve recovery. That means:
- Immediate access to detox when someone is ready
- Residential and inpatient treatment programs with wraparound support
- Peer recovery specialists and therapists who understand addiction firsthand
- Post-treatment planning to reduce relapse risk
Maryland Must Invest in the Full Continuum of Care
Thanks to state-level efforts, Maryland is expanding overdose tracking dashboards and funding more community health work. But as Fox Baltimore’s piece points out, much of that funding hasn’t reached the critical services people actually need: beds, programs, and follow-up care.
If we want to truly change the tide of addiction in Baltimore, we must invest in the full spectrum of care—from harm reduction to healing. Every life lost is preventable.
Help Is Out There—And Recovery Is Possible
Whether you’re in active addiction or trying to help a loved one, know this: you are not alone, and help is available. Treatment works. Recovery is real. And with the right support, anyone can find a new way forward.
If you’re looking for addiction treatment in Maryland, Hygea Healthcare offers compassionate, evidence-based care. We’re here to meet people where they are—and help them get where they want to go.
