Tuesday, May 20, 2025
5/20/2025
State of Maryland Opioid Response II (MD-SOR II) - The proposed program, State of Maryland Opioid Response II (MD-SOR II) is designed to increase the capacity of local service delivery systems to provide coordinated and integrated evidence-based prevention, treatment and recovery services to individuals with substance and opioid use disorders. It will improve access and enhance services by reducing unmet treatment need, strengthening the workforce, engaging primary care providers in identifying harmful substance use, increasing access to treatment, and emphasize peer and other recovery support. The emphasis for MD-SOR II will be areas in which our data clearly reveals demonstrated need. In 2018, Maryland experienced an average of 6 opioid related deaths per day. Overdose deaths are more likely for individuals between the ages of 26-49 (54.6%), White (62.1%) and male (73.1%). Since 2017, deaths among African Americans have increased by 40%. The highest death rates are in Baltimore City (4 times the state rate) and three rural counties. Opioid prescriptions decreased 28% from 2017 to 2019. Cocaine and methamphetamine deaths increased 3 fold between 2015 and 2019. The Maryland Department of Health's Behavioral Health Administration (MD-BHA) worked with a variety of partners to seek input in determining the best use of the funding to maximize the impact for the population. MD-BHA has decided that our goals for the program are to increase access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT); reduce unmet treatment need; and reduce opioid related details through prevention, treatment and recovery using evidence-based practices. MD-BHA seeks to enhance public and provider awareness of causes and resources available for solutions; improve screening, intervention and referrals for treatment; create a welcoming array of services that are locally available through providers who utilize medication assisted treatment; increase the capacity to handle crises through crisis walk-in centers, crisis beds and safe stations; and provide individualized recovery services across the age spectrum with the assistance of peers and increased housing choices. As one of the first States to recognize the promise offered by Evidence Based Practices (EBP), we will maintain this emphasis on EBPs and quality utilizing a continuous quality improvement and a data-driven decision-making framework. Maryland is committed to a strategic approach to availability of quality services while reducing and eliminating opioid use. The MD-SOR II grant provides us with the opportunity to make a tremendous difference in individuals' lives. Numbers of individuals served each year and in total: Year 1 - 105,803, Year 2 - 117,209 and across the lifetime of the project is 223,012.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).