Inaugural Substance Use Awareness Day Rally in Annapolis

Annapolis, MD. – 
On Wednesday, April 2, Lieutenant Governor Aruna K. Miller and Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response (MOOR) will host Maryland’s first Substance Use Awareness Day Rally in Annapolis on Lawyer’s Mall. The rally will begin at 9:00 a.m. and is open to the public. More information can be found at StopOverdose.maryland.gov/events. 

The event will bring together community members, advocates, and policymakers to advance meaningful action addressing overdoses in Maryland. Featured speakers include Lt. Governor Miller, Special Secretary of Overdose Response Emily Keller, members of the Maryland General Assembly, and representatives from the Baltimore City Council.

“The number of fatal overdoses has decreased in Maryland, but we have to keep the momentum trending in the right direction,” said Lt. Governor Miller. “Our state has made significant progress thanks to the collaborative efforts of public health officials and community organizations across the state working to make connections to substance use care. This rally will demonstrate our continued commitment to saving lives. All overdoses are preventable, and we will not let up in our efforts now.” 

“We have to continue to be loud as we work to reduce overdoses further in Maryland,” said Special Secretary Keller. “We are so thankful to the advocates that are doing this work every day – the dedicated individuals making a difference in the lives of people with substance use disorders across our communities. This work is vital, and we invite everyone to join us as we recommit to doing even more.”

With direct oversight from the lieutenant governor’s office, the recently announced Overdose Response Strategy  identifies five goals for reducing overdoses and expanding access to substance use care. The MOOR team will now operate with guidance from the lieutenant governor’s office to streamline the actions of all state agencies working to reduce overdoses and expand access to substance use services. 

More information about the strategy and Maryland’s efforts to reduce overdoses can be found at StopOverdose.maryland.gov.