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DLS: Overdose deaths remain high; state and federal grants fund response
Summary
DLS presented overdose trends showing over 22,000 Maryland deaths from 2015–2024 and described federal grants, state behavioral health appropriations and opioid settlement funds used for local grants and crisis response.
Department of Legislative Services briefed the Health and Government Operations Committee on Maryland—s overdose crisis, federal and state funding and the use of opioid‑settlement dollars.
"According to the CDC, more than 22,000 individuals died of overdoses in Maryland between fiscal 2015 and 2024," Naomi Camaro said, and DLS analysts showed trends that track national patterns but with notable jurisdictional disparities: Baltimore City had both the highest number of deaths and the highest fatality rate.
Funding and programs. DLS summarized federal grant sources including the State Opioid Response grant and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants, which the state distributes to local jurisdictions for prevention, treatment, crisis response and recovery supports. DLS noted that the Behavioral Health Administration received nearly $90 million in legislative appropriations for FY25 for behavioral health and opioid response but that the department planned to revert $30 million and that the FY26 allowance includes about $73 million for behavioral health initiatives.
Opioid restitution fund. DLS explained the Opioid Restitution Fund (ORF) that collects settlement payments and disburses funds to local subdivisions and competitive grants. DLS presented a projection of incoming settlement funds through fiscal 2038 and said the ORF has prioritized block grants to local jurisdictions and competitive grants to community‑based organizations, with some discretionary uses by the Secretary of Health for data and statewide activities.
Committee members asked for local breakdowns and for continued reporting on how settlement and federal funds are deployed at the community level; DLS said much of the current ORF spending appears in block and competitive grants and that the department will continue to track disbursements.
