After a steady rise in opioid-related overdose deaths in Howard County, the rate of opioid-related overdose deaths appears to have slowed. Increased access to naloxone (opioid overdose reversal drug), safer prescribing practices, access to treatment, education, and risk reduction outreach activities have improved outcomes, ultimately saving lives. 

Howard County Health Department's Opioid Overdose Response Program (ORP) leads and coordinates naloxone trainings, conducts community outreach efforts, and provides overdose prevention strategies and support. The Harm Reduction program and Peer Support Services team meet people where they are in communities. They offer support to be safe and receive help when people are ready.

In 2016, the opioid crisis began to rise. And although it appeared that we were beginning to curb that rise in overdose deaths, 2020 changed that trajectory. Howard County has seen a consistent decrease in the number of non-fatal and fatal opioid related overdoses since the height of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date in CY2025, we have 11 fatal overdoses – currently 16 less than this time last year.

When comparing year-to-date (the number of overdoses from calendar years 2024 versus 2025), we see there is a 61.5% decrease in fatal overdoses. 

This progress comes from using data to inform prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services and those program services working together to amplify impact.  Activities include:

• Utilizing Data | Howard County used a formula to measure risk of overdose. This “heat mapping” allows us to be better poised to support areas more at risk and drill down to communities that need additional support. 
• Naloxone distribution | Since 2020, in Howard County, we have trained  9,468 people, and distributed 9,693 naloxone kits – reaching individuals in crisis and training large groups like the Howard County Public Library system and Merriweather Post staff. 
• Peer recovery specialists | Specialists visit high-risk settings, including hotels and street outreach, where overdoses have occurred, to offer naloxone, safe use supplies, and provide assistance to connect people to benefits and treatment. 
• Harm reduction vending machines | The county is finalizing the roll out of two vending machines.  These machines will be stocked with naloxone and resource materials to make life-saving tools more accessible.

But the fight is far from over. Even with declining numbers, opioids remain one of the leading causes of preventable death in the county. The crisis has shifted but not disappeared.

Community voices are essential to shaping the next phase of prevention. The County is completing a needs assessment to determine gaps in overdose prevention services.  This spring, town halls will be conducted for the community to continue shaping the changing landscape.