Overview
The Rapid Analysis of Drugs (RAD) program tests routine paraphernalia voluntarily provided by Maryland OADPOP participants in partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Testing results are provided back to OADPOPs and the participant who submitted the sample. Aggregate data also helps to inform overdose prevention efforts with various local and statewide public health partners.
Since October 2021, over 6,000 samples have been tested among 25 OADPOPs in 15 jurisdictions.
Background
The
MDH BHA Office of Overdose Prevention & Education (OPE) (formerly known as the Office of Harm Reduction or OHR) sought a way to incorporate drug checking into Maryland’s overdose response strategy after experiencing a record number of fatal overdoses in 2020 and 2021.
Growing evidence shows that drug checking services are an effective overdose prevention strategy and can alter behavioral intentions of people who use drugs.
RAD was implemented in October of 2021 through a partnership between OPE and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
NIST is a federal physical science laboratory housed within the U.S. Department of Commerce. RAD uses Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) technology to analyze the composition trace amounts of street drugs.
Legal Framework
The legal framework for RAD is based in
Md. Health-General Article §24-901 - §24-909.
For a helpful handout on the legal framework of OADPOPs and RAD in Maryland, view
Syringe Services Programs: Resources for Law Enforcement Officers.
(a) A Program staff member, Program volunteer, or Program participant may not be arrested, charged, or prosecuted for violating
§ 5–601,
§ 5–619,
§ 5–620, or
§ 5–902(c) or (d) of the Criminal Law Article for possessing or distributing controlled paraphernalia or drug paraphernalia whenever the possession or distribution of the controlled paraphernalia or drug paraphernalia is a direct result of the employee’s, volunteer’s, or participant’s activities in connection with the work of a Program authorized under this subtitle.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a Program staff member, Program volunteer, or Program participant is not immune from criminal prosecution for any activities not authorized or approved by a Program.
How It Works
RAD allows participants of Maryland OADPOPs to have used paraphernalia tested for drug composition. A trained OADPOP staff member wipes the paraphernalia and completes a webform with the participant. Only a trace amount of sample is needed for testing. The webform does not include any personal identifiers and is securely visible to OPE and OADPOP staff. Collection setting (onsite, mobile unit, street outreach) varies by OADPOP. The wipe is mailed to NIST, where it is tested using DART-MS. OPE shares results with the OADPOP, and the OADPOP staff are responsible for sharing the results back to the participant who submitted the sample.
Recent Data
All of the data below comes from the
CY2025 Q4 RAD Newsletter and is current as of 1/30/26. RAD gives us insight into the near real time drug supply in MD, but is not fully representative. RAD is completely voluntary for OADPOPs and their participants, making it a convenience sample.
In Q4 CY2025, 429 samples were collected from 21 OADPOPs in 14 jurisdictions.
- The Q4 CY2025 samples contained:
- Opioids (58.7%)
- Of those samples, 94% contained fentanyl.
- Cocaine (33.57%)
- Amphetamines (16.08%)
- Medetomidine (10.72%)
- Xylazine (5.59%)
- 46.37% of samples were collected through street outreach or mobile units.
- 55.24% of samples had multiple active ingredients.
- Identification of emerging substances in MD:
-
Medetomidine (veterinary sedative) and
anesthetics - both commonly seen in combination with fentanyl.
- Kratom/Mitragynine - seen in 11 samples from 4 jurisdictions (Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Frederick, and St. Mary's)
-
Azaperone - veterinary sedative, not yet seen in MD RAD, seen in other eastern states.
To read more reports, visit RAD Reports below. To find community-based overdose prevention resources near you, visit the
Office of Overdose Prevention & Education (OPE).
Maggie Rybak, RAD Program Manager:
[email protected]
Janelle Hodgson, Epidemiologist:
[email protected]
RAD Reports
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
View more reports.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does RAD have to be run through an OADPOP?
Yes. Because
OADPOPs are exempt from Maryland drug paraphernalia laws, staff, volunteers and participants can handle the paraphernalia that is swabbed for testing.
How does my ORP become an OADPOP?
To learn how to become an Opioid–Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Program (OADPOP) in Maryland, visit the
OADPOP. To learn how to become an Overdose Response Program (ORP) in Maryland, visit the
ORP.
How can I test a sample?
Find an OADPOP that participates in RAD near you
here.
Are there minimum or maximum sampling requirements for OADPOPs who participate in RAD?
No, there are no minimum or maximum sample requirements. An OADPOP can send in as few or as many RAD samples as they want.
How is participant information protected?
No Personal Health Information (PHI) or Personal Private Information (PPI) is shared with OPE or NIST. OADPOP participant privacy is required by Maryland Health-General Article §24-901 - §24-909.
RAD testing results are shared with OADPOP programs who share both individual results back to the participant that submitted the sample and aggregate results to their communities. Qualitative data (most of which is optional) is collected from participants via webform at the time of testing. This data is stored in a OPE database and only shared back to OADPOP staff.
