Important update: T​​raining is transitioning to new leadership with Health HIV starting July 1, 2025. MDH will ensure the continued delivery of high-quality, evidence-informed materials and learning opportunities that support and advance harm reduction efforts across the state.

If you have any questions or would like to speak with someone directly, please contact Ingrid McDowell, DrPHc, MPH at ingrid.mcdowell@maryland.gov.

​Thank you for your continued trust, engagement, and partnership. We look forward to working together to ensure Maryland harm reduction training continues to meet the evolving needs of Maryland’s harm reduction community and strengthens the foundation for a more resilient future.​​​​​​

​Regrounding Our Response (ROR)​​​

​The Regrounding Our Response (ROR) Training Series advances w​orkforce development, reduces stigma,  increases understanding of trauma and trauma-informed approaches, and supports increased linkages to behavioral health and quality care for people who use drugs. The ROR workforce development program supports the training of Master Presenters to sustainably disseminate inf​​ormation to the broader community and federally qualified health centers. ROR also measures community, workforce, and Master Presenter stigma levels using the Shatterproof Addiction Stigma Index (SASI). 

Visit the Regrounding Our Response website for free, on-demand training:

• Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Medications For Addiction Treatment (MAT) as Overdose Prevention
• Comprehensive Care Framework for People Who Use Drugs
  
• Exploring the Social Determinants of Health
  
• Exploring the Stages of Change​
  

For technical assistance or more information, please email ingrid.mcdowell@maryland.g​​ov​​​.​​​​​

Bold Initiative

The Bold Initiative supports overdose prevention and leadership development for people who use drugs. This initiative also seeks to address overdose variances in communities throughout Maryland. The initiative focuses on the creation of a trauma-informed training series tailored for outreach workers and providers who serve communities of people who use drugs. The initiative creates innovative interventions like the Peer Leadership Development Training, Youth Peer Prevention Curriculum, Maternal Health Curriculum, and Overdose Prevention for Seniors Curriculum, to specifically address the structural issues that hinder communities from accessing and retaining the lifesaving services provided by the state of Maryland. For more information, please email​ leslie.janeen@maryland.gov​.​​​​

Wound Care and Comprehensive Care​​ for PWUD​​​

Free in-person or virtual ​wound care training is available for clinical staff, and basic first aid and medical training is available for non-clinical staff. ​For more information or inquiries, please email elizabeth.spradley@maryland.gov​​.​​​​

Wound Care Reso​​​​urces​​​​

​Opioid ​​Response Netw​​ork

• Explainer on Use of Xy​​lazine and Tre​atment and Care for Patients with Associated Wounds
• Opioid Response Network TA​ Requests: Submit a request for a wound care traini​ng or request a training on anything you are interested in learning more about

​Boston Me​​​dical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction Training & Technical Assistance

• Xylazine Wound Handout (pocket-sized​​​ version in English)
• Xylazine Woun​​​d Handout (pocket-sized version in Spanish)

​​​​NEXT Distro

• ​​W​ound & Abscess Care for People Who Use Drugs

​​Scottish Wound Care Gu​​ide PWID

• ​​National Wound Care Guide: An introduction to recognising and assessing common wounds and injecting injuries in people who inject drugs​

​Dept of Public Health: City of Phila​delphia

• ​Recommendations for caring for individuals with xylazine-associated wounds
• ​Presentation on the recommendations guide

​​The Center for Forensic Scie​nce Research and Information

• Caring for People with Xylazine-Associated Wounds: Training for Non-Clinicians
• Caring for People with Xylazine-Associated Wounds: Training for Clinicians

Substance Us​​e Philly

• Healthcare Resources
• Stimulants
• Stimula​nts and the body
• Stimulants resource toolkit for healthcare providers: "Cocaine is often adulterated with levamisole, which can cause skin necrosis."
  

National Heal​​thcare for the Homeless Council​

• Wound Care in the Age of Xylazine: Practical and Ethical Considerations for Wound Treatment
• Learning Lab: Wound Care Management Across Health Care for the Homeless Settings
• Empowering Skin and Soft Tissue Care in Homeless Communities​​​​​

​Portland Stre​​et Medicine

• First Aid For Wounds And Other​​ Skin Conditions For People Living On The Streets (for desktop or mobile): Illustrated infographic covering wound care strategies, ​​bacterial infections, foot conditions, rashes, injuries, infestations & bugs, and treatment tips.​