Addressing Overdose Disparities in Maryland
By telling the stories of people who use drugs, the BOLD Initiative seeks to address overdose disparities in Black and Latinx communities in Maryland.
Stories are inspired by conversations with community members.
Our Mission.
In 2023, the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs and the Maryland Department of Health partnered with Black and Latinx community members to begin to understand why overdose disparity is having such a devastating impact on their communities.
BOLD (BIPOC Overdose prevention and Leadership Academy) represents the Center for Harm Reduction Service’s effort to address the barriers faced by BIPOC drug users because of systemic inequality. We seek to do this through curriculum development for harm reduction program staff and through expansion of resources for BIPOC individuals who use drugs.
Learn more about the findings of our workshops:
Workshop Findings: Baltimore City and Washington County
In 2023, the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs and the Maryland Department of Health partnered with Black and Latinx community members to begin to understand why overdose disparity is having such a devastating impact on their communities.
BOLD (BIPOC Overdose prevention and Leadership Academy) represents the Center for Harm Reduction Service’s effort to address the barriers faced by BIPOC drug users because of systemic inequality. We seek to do this through curriculum development for harm reduction program staff and through expansion of resources for BIPOC individuals who use drugs.
Learn more about the findings of our workshops:
39%
of opioid overdose deaths were Black Marylanders, despite only representing 30.7% of MD’s population (2020)
68%
increase in overdose deaths among Hispanic Marylanders (2020)
These are our stories
These stories are real-life situations of people affected by Maryland’s overdose disparity. Hear from people who use drugs and the family members, friends, and community leaders supporting them. Each story includes links to resources you can use to learn about harm reduction and access services that support people who use drugs and their support groups.
Gabriel
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I’m Gabriel. I got hurt at work a few months ago. A buddy gave me some pills to help with the pain. When I found out fentanyl could be in pressed pills, I decided to start carrying Naloxone. Whether the pills come from a pharmacist or not, it’s always smart to be safe.
James
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My name is James. I’ve been using Fentanyl for 3 years. When I use, I usually inject. So to keep myself and friends safe from HIV or HEP C I re-up on new syringes every week.
Elena
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My name is Elena. My boyfriend means a lot to me and our daughter. I got some naloxone to help him if he overdoses.
Hector
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My name is Hector. I have friends and family who use drugs and I want them to know that I’m always there for them, so I picked up some naloxone. I want to help in every way possible.
Brianna
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I’m Brianna. I want my husband to feel healthy in his mind and body, so we decided to find a therapist who he felt open to talking to about his struggles with substance use.
Sharice
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My name is Sharice. Ever since middle school me and my brother have struggled with addiction. When he passed, it left a big hole in my life. Talking to my friends and family about my feelings helped me come to terms with losing my brother. They were the support I needed during recovery.
Alicia
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I’m Alicia. I contracted hepatitis C after reusing an old syringe. I had no idea where to go or what to do until someone told me about the Syringe Services Program. A case manager there helped me understand my treatment options. In just a few weeks, I was fully recovered. And now I pick up new syringes every couple of weeks.
Amari
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My name is Amari. I’ve been having a tough time with my addiction lately. My faith has always been a guiding light, so I started talking to a counselor at church. They taught me about harm reduction, a way I could use drugs safely while I work toward a better place.
Daniel
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My name is Daniel. One of my buddies uses heroin and experienced an overdose. I thought a cold shower or slapping him awake would help him, but I was wrong. Luckily someone in the house had Naloxone. After that scare, I completed opioid overdose response training and now I know how to recognize the signs of overdose and can effectively administer Naloxone.
Ana
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My name is Ana. I learned about harm reduction practices and realized this was a way to help keep my son safe and in my life.
Cheryl
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My name is Cheryl. It’s been a tough few years, but I have a lot of living left to do. When I use drugs, I start with a small amount and wait 20 seconds after injecting to test the strength.
Derrick
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My name is Derrick. My mom gave me a good life, so I look out for her. I picked up some test strips she can use to make sure her drugs aren’t mixed with anything unexpected.