The Pennsylvania Avenue branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore’s Penn North neighborhood became a focal point for outreach efforts after a mass overdose incident on Thursday.
Community advocates set up tents at a nearby intersection, distributing the overdose-reversal drug, naloxone.
Vernard Nelson, the overdose response director for Penn North Recovery Center, called out to people passing by, asking if they were seeking Narcan.
A 55-year-old woman replied, inquiring about food at the same time.
Although Nelson had run out of snacks, he managed to provide bags filled with naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and educational brochures.
As of Friday morning, authorities reported that at least 27 individuals were taken to hospitals, with seven in critical condition and 15 in serious but stable conditions.
Fortunately, there have been no fatalities related to the incident, according to a press conference held by emergency services.
First responders arrived in the Penn North neighborhood shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday, encountering over a dozen people in need of immediate help.
The Baltimore City Health Department took measures to close a portion of the block to facilitate treatment on-site for those affected, while the library remained closed on Friday.
City workers and community members canvassed the neighborhood with boxes of naloxone and fentanyl test strips, as the mayor’s office coordinated ongoing outreach efforts throughout West Baltimore on Friday.
Dozens of individuals gathered at the intersection near the Penn-North station, still processing the shocking events from the previous day.
Stephen Johnson, who witnessed the chaos, expressed his feelings about the overdoses. His sister contacted him after seeing news reports, checking if he had been involved.
“I’m lucky I didn’t,” Johnson said, reflecting on the harrowing situation.
“It was a wake-up call. I need to stop.”
Community members and advocates believe the overdoses were linked to “testers,” which are free samples of new drug batches.
Joe Carlini from Chrysler Counselor explained that many individuals try these samples due to their zero cost.
Despite ongoing investigations, officials have yet to determine the exact reasons behind the overdoses.
Mayor Brandon Scott emphasized the need for surveillance to address the trafficking of drugs into the city while also prioritizing resource allocation to local communities.
“The first and most important thing that you have to be in order to get treatment is be alive,” Scott stated during the press briefing.
He reiterated the city’s commitment to keeping individuals alive while ensuring they have access to necessary services.
The mass overdose occurred just one day after the City Council conducted its long-awaited public hearing addressing Baltimore’s drug crisis.
Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, who initiated the hearings, referred to the recent overdoses as devastating. ”
She underscored the ongoing urgency to implement harm reduction strategies in the city.
Baltimore has recently faced a soaring overdose death rate, surpassing that of any other major U.S. city.
Last fall, the city managed to secure over $668 million in a legal settlement with pharmaceutical companies blamed for exacerbating the addiction crisis.
Leaders in Baltimore revealed a draft plan aimed at reducing overdose fatalities by 40% by the year 2040.
The strategy includes establishing round-the-clock outreach teams to connect individuals to addiction services and create safe spaces for rest and resource access.
Dr. Sarah Lee, an emergency room physician at the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus, recalled her shift coinciding with the onset of overdose cases.
Over a span of 10 hours, she treated approximately six patients exhibiting overdose symptoms, while her colleague attended to four additional cases.
Lee expressed a “strong suspicion” that these incidents involved drugs being mixed with opioids, noting symptoms not typically associated with fentanyl or heroin.
She anticipates an influx of potential related cases in the following days but indicated that predicting outcomes remains challenging.
Dr. Ben Lawner, the Medical Director of Maryland ExpressCare, acknowledged that Baltimore often deals with numerous overdoses simultaneously.
However, he noted the rarity of experiencing such a significant number within such a short timeframe.
In the aftermath of the mass overdose, Vernard Nelson has been actively advocating for community members to acquire naloxone and training in its use for emergency situations.
He highlighted that participants have been eager to learn since the tragedy.
Donnese Langley shared her reflections on the event, admitting that she narrowly escaped involvement in the overdose crisis.
Had she arrived just half an hour earlier, she believes she would have been among those affected.
“So many people are sad and scared,” Langley expressed, emphasizing the high volume of individuals struggling with addiction in this area.
According to Langley, the street often resembles an “open-air market” for drug transactions, leading to a complex situation where users fear tainted drugs but feel trapped by their addictions.
She urged authorities to bolster resources, including housing, medical assistance, and drug awareness programs.
Additionally, Langley suggested that a stronger police presence could deter drug use, especially if citations were issued to those found purchasing drugs.
Vincent Timmons, an outreach specialist with Tuerk House, noted that the current hospitalization numbers do not account for individuals who refuse assistance after an overdose.
He explained that if someone regains consciousness and opts out of help, medical professionals have no choice but to let them leave.
In a separate incident, a woman and a man were observed slumped together in front of a vacant house on Traction Street, one day after the overdose panic unfolded.
Carlini mentioned that the woman had given birth just two days prior and had consumed a tester.
Their situation was particularly alarming, as the infant was at the NICU.
Carlini monitored her heart rate, which he noted was dangerously low.
Regardless, the pair declined to seek immediate medical treatment.
Instead, Carlini prompted them to get up and walk, offering ongoing support and ensuring they took steps towards recovery.
As the two ambled along a grassy area near the house, holding each other for support, the community continued to grapple with the impact of the overdose crisis.
image source from：thebaltimorebanner
