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Montgomery County officials report sharp drop in fatal overdoses, warn of workforce and federal funding risks
Summary
DHHS leaders told the HHS committee that fatal overdoses in Montgomery County fell dramatically in 2024, but cautioned that workforce shortages and potential federal Medicaid/Medicare reductions could undermine services and recovery gains.
Monica Martin, Chief of Behavioral Health and Crisis Services for Montgomery County, told the Health & Human Services Committee that county overdose indicators fell substantially in 2024: overall fatal overdoses dropped about 40% compared with 2023, opioid‑involved fatal overdoses fell about 48% and fentanyl‑involved fatalities fell roughly 52%.
Martin credited increased outreach, expanded Narcan/Naloxone training and distribution, and programs such as STEER (Stop, Triage, Engage, Educate and Rehabilitate), which served close to 600 high‑risk clients in 2024 (82% completed screenings; 57% engaged in treatment). She also cited the Crisis Stabilization Room, which admitted more than 400 individuals in 2024 and reported that about 70% of those presentations involved substance‑use concerns.
Despite the reported declines, Martin warned the committee the behavioral health system remains fragile. She said Montgomery County has about 168 behavioral‑health professionals serving 30,000 public‑system clients and needs roughly a 50% increase in staffing to meet current demand. The county also faces underrepresentation of Latino and Asian behavioral‑health workers relative to population shares.
Department leadership tied service stability to reimbursement and grants: DHHS submitted 12 supplementary budget requests for FY25 (four still pending) and noted that federal changes to Medicaid and Medicare could significantly affect local revenue. Dr. Bridgers and department staff stressed the department’s ongoing “what if” scenarios and urged policymakers to continue prioritizing behavioral health in budget decisions.
Martin also highlighted program investments: reopening the Mountain Manor youth residential facility and an expansion of peer recovery efforts and school‑based prevention that the department said contributed to declines in youth overdoses. She invited council members and community partners to upcoming outreach events, including a spring forum and Denim Day awareness activities.
Ending: Officials asked committee members to treat behavioral health as a core priority as the county finalizes FY26 funding, and agreed to provide continued updates on workforce and revenue projections as grant and federal policy details evolve.
