Maryland Department of Health
The Overdose Response Program

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​​​Center ​for ​​​​​H​​a​​​​​​​​​rm Redu​ction ​​Serv​ice​​s​​​​​​​​​​​

About Us

​​The Maryland Department of Health ​Center for H​arm Reduction Services ​(CHRS) ​was established in 2019 to centralize harm reduction activities across the Department. The Center is housed with the Prevention and Promotion Division in the Behavioral Health Administration. The Center oversees the Overdose Response Program, Syringe Services Program, naloxone distribution, harm reduction gr​​ants​, and various workforce development, training, and technical assistance​ activities.​​​​​​​​​​

​CHRS Strategic Goal an​d Vision

​​​The Center's strategic goal is to ​reduce substance-related morbidity and mortality by optimizing services for people who use drugs. ​The Center for Harm Reduction Services 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.​
​

Select CHRS Programs

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

​The ​statewide standing order issued by Dr. Laura Herrera Scott​, MD, MPH, Secretary of​ Health, Maryland Department of Health (MDH), 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 Center for Harm Reduction Serv​ices 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 mdh.naloxone@maryland.gov with any questions.

Syringe Service​s Pro​​gra​m​ (SSP)

The Center for Harm Reduction Services administers the Maryland Syringe Services Program, reviewing new applications, managing program reporting, issuing program guidance, and providing TA and support to approved programs. The Center for Harm Reduction Services holds quarterly public meetings of the Harm Reduction Standing Advisory Committee​. Contac​t mdh.syringeservices@maryland.gov​ with any questions.

Rapid Analysis of Drugs (RAD)​​​

Rapid Analysis of Drugs (RAD) is a statewide drug checking program available to Maryland Syringe Service Program (SSP)​ participants.

CHRS Grants and Res​ourc​​e​​s​​

Through our grant programs​​, the Center f​or Harm Reduction Services supports the local i​mplementation of harm reduction programs and ensures statewide access to resources for harm reduction activities including naloxone. ​These grants support the CHRS goals of reducing substance-related morbidity and mortality by optimizing services for people who use drugs. Contact mdh.access@maryland.gov​​ with any questions.​​​​​​

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

​​​​The Center for Harm Reduction Services partners ​with the Maryland Harm Reduction Training Institute (MaHRTI)​ to build the capacity of Maryland's harm reduction workforce to provide optimal services to people who use drugs. For more information, visit mahrti.org​ or contact mahrti@bhsbaltimore.org. The Ce​​nter also provides other workforce development and training​, including the Regrounding Our Response initiative and Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion training.​

Additional Resourc​​es​​

​Page content last checked November 20​, 2024.