Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Substance Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
OEM and partners cite reduced overdoses in Ward 6, expand harm‑reduction outreach and seek vending‑machine access
Summary
City emergency management and partners reported the lowest Ward 6 overdose total since tracking began in 2015, credited sustained outreach, vending machines and the Well Mobile; officials said federal grant reviews have paused some funding and they are seeking local options for after‑hours naloxone access.
The Office of Emergency Management and partner groups told the Public Safety Committee that Ward 6 recorded its lowest number of overdoses since 2015 and that ongoing harm‑reduction efforts—community Narcan vending machines, a weekly Well Mobile clinic and expanded outreach—have contributed to declines.
Kevin Simmons, city emergency manager, and Brandon Gosnell, assistant project coordinator for the overdose‑response program, said the city distributes about 300 food boxes a week through the Food Friday program and that Ward 6 received 81 boxes serving 81 families (310 individuals), including 21 seniors and 149 children. The food program is administered with the Anne Arundel County Food Bank and local volunteers.
On substance use disorder, OEM presented its 2024 end‑of‑year report. Brandon Gosnell said total overdoses citywide were the lowest since the department began keeping records in 2015; Ward 6 had a single fatal overdose in 2024 compared with four in 2023. He said reported naloxone (Narcan) use was recorded in roughly 80% of Ward 6 overdose responses the committee reviewed, and that two‑thirds of overdose incidents citywide cluster within a corridor near President Street.
Officials described three harm‑reduction tools that have been most visible in Ward 6: the community Narcan vending machine installed in Eastport and Anne Arundel County machines, the Well Mobile health van that operates Wednesdays at Harbor House, and targeted outreach teams that distribute naloxone, hygiene kits and referrals. The committee heard that Eastport’s vending‑machine network has dispensed about 1,800 kits countywide since the program launched.
Alderman Gay urged a 24‑hour solution for naloxone access and suggested a climate‑controlled outdoor dispenser. OEM and council members said they are exploring possible locations and legal/operational constraints; OEM noted the vending machine must be in a climate‑controlled, secure location and that community groups and property owners must agree to host devices.
The committee also heard that federal grant awards and some Department of Homeland Security and FEMA programs are under national review; Chief Simmons said several grants and a climate‑related grant application were temporarily paused while federal agencies review applications for policy compliance. The city is monitoring the reviews for their potential effect on local staffing and programs.
OEM officials said a community liaison position intended to bolster outreach across wards remains unfilled owing to delays; the department asked the committee for assistance identifying appropriate candidates and emphasized the priority of keeping outreach staffing in place to sustain reductions in overdoses.
