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​​​Office of Overdose Prevention & Education​​ (OPE)​

Jump to: About Us, Strategic Goal and Vision​, Select OPE Programs, Additional Resources, Job Opportunities, List of OPE Webpages

About Us

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​​The Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration Office of Overdose Prevention & Education (formerly Office of Harm Reduction or OHR) ​was established in 2019 to centralize community-based overdose prevention and infectious disease prevention activities across the Department. OPE is housed within the Pre​vention and Promotion Division in the Behavioral Health Administration. OPE oversees the Overdose Response Program (ORP), Opioid–Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Program (OADPOP)​ (formerly SSP), ​naloxone distribution, ACCESS community-based overdose prevention gr​​ants​, and various workforce development, training, and technical assistance​ activities.​​​​​​​​​​

OPE Strategic Goal an​d Vision

OPE's strategic goal is to ​reduce substance-related morbidity and mortality by optimizing services for people who use drugs. ​The Office Overdose Prevention & Education​ ​envisions a Maryland where:

  • People who use drugs have access to compassionate, quality care that is free from stigma;
  • Services are low-barrier, community-based, and comprehensive; and
  • Experiences of past trauma, criminal legal involvement, and racism do not determine one’s health outcomes or quality of life.​
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Select OPE Programs

​​St​atewide​​ Stan​ding ​​Order​​ for P​harmacy Dispensin​g

​The ​statewide standing order allows all Maryland licensed pharm​acists to dispense naloxone, including any necessary supplies for administration, to an​y individual. Download the order and learn​ more​.

Overdose​ Resp​onse Progra​​​​m (ORP)

The Office of Overdose Prevention & Education authorizes government agencies and community-based organizations as Over​​dose ​R​esponse Programs​​, allowing them to provide overdose education and dispense naloxone to the community.​ Contact [email protected] with any questions.

Opioid–Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Program (OADPOP)

The Office of Overdose Prevention & Education​ administers the Maryland Opioid–Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Program (OADPOP) (formerly Syringe Services Program), reviewing new applications, managing program reporting, issuing program guidance, and providing TA and support to approved programs. OPE holds quarterly public meetings of the Harm Reduction Standing Advisory Commit​tee​. Con​tac​t [email protected]​ with any questions.

Rapid Analysis of Drugs (RAD)​​​

The Office of Overdose Prevention & Education administers Rapid Analysis of Drugs (RAD), a statewide drug checking program available to Maryland Opioid–Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Program (OADPOP)​ participants.

OPE Grants and Res​ourc​​e​​s​​

Through our grant programs​​, OPE supports the local implementation of community-based overdose prevention programs and ensures statewide access to resources for community-based overdose prevention activities including naloxone. ​These grants support the OPE goals of reducing substance-related morbidity and mortality by optimizing services for people who use drugs. Contact [email protected]​​ with any questions.​​​​​​

Training ​and Tec​​hnica​l ​Ass​istance​​

For information about workforce development and training supported by OPE, including POINT Center MD, Regrounding Our Response, the Bold Initiative, and wound care, visit Training & Technical Assistance.​​

Additional​​ Resourc​​es​​

Job Opportun​ities

MDH job opportunities that include the key word "overdose" will appear below. If there are no opportunities matching the search criteria, "No Job Opportunities" will display. If a job is listed, click on the job title to show details, then click "View this recruitment" to apply.​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​

Retrieving Data

List of OPE Webpages​

​Page last updated March 27, 2026. Page contact: [email protected]​