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DBH credits drop in opioid deaths to Live Long DC initiatives; Columbia Heights stabilization center delayed by remediation
Summary
DBH reported a 30% decline in opioid-related deaths and described the Columbia Heights stabilization center as a promising low-barrier treatment access point, but officials said remediation and facility work pushed opening estimates into spring 2026 and that bilingual staff will be required.
At the Feb. 5 performance oversight hearing the Department of Behavioral Health highlighted a multi-pronged effort to address opioid overdoses while outlining delays at a new Columbia Heights stabilization center.
Dr. Barbara Bazaron, director of DBH, said the District saw a roughly 30 percent decline in opioid-related deaths and a 17 percent decline in nonfatal overdoses in the past year. Bazaron attributed the reductions to a combination of…
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