BALTIMORE, MD (Thursday, July 10, 2025) - This morning, there was a mass overdose event in the Penn North area of Baltimore City. First responders immediately mobilized alongside public health officials and community partners.

Anyone potentially impacted should call 911 to seek immediate care. Additional resources are available through the 988 helpline.

As a significant public health event, the Mayor's Office of Overdose Response and Baltimore City Health Department remind residents who use drugs to practice harm reduction and risk reduction techniques.

1. Never use alone. Have someone around in case you overdose.
2. Carry Naloxone/Narcan. Both are available for free through the Baltimore City Health Department.
3. Test your drugs. There are Fentanyl and Xylazine test strips available through the Baltimore City Health Department.
4. Go slow. The illicit drug supply is potent and mixed with various substances, so use smaller amounts if possible.

This event remains under investigation. Officials have not yet confirmed what caused these overdoses.

First responders and community partners remain on the ground, distributing resources including test strips and Narcan, canvassing the neighborhood, and ensuring impacted residents get the medical care they need. Community partners will be on site through the night to continue Narcan and harm reduction distribution. MONSE, alongside the Mayor's Office of Overdose Response, will activate a Coordinated Neighborhood Stabilization Response in the morning.

The response, led by the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) and the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD), included the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), Mayor's Office of Overdose Response (BCMOOR), Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), State public health and public safety agencies, mutual aid from surrounding jurisdictions, and numerous community partners.

EMS, public health officials, and community partners distributed critical harm reduction supplies to those impacted. Harm reduction teams worked together to mobilize resources like the Spot Mobile Van and deployed to canvas the area, including nearby vacant dwellings. Teams distributed Narcan, test strips, safe use kits, and other harm reduction resources aimed at reducing overdoses.

The site remains an active emergency response scene. BPD continues to investigate the scene and surrounding neighborhoods, focusing on the source of the overdose event. BPD reminds individuals that under Good Samaritan laws, they can seek medical care without fear of arrest.

Transportation remains impacted in the area. North Avenue remains closed between Carey Street and Druid Hill Avenue. All cross streets along this portion of North Avenue are also closed. Officials anticipate streets will reopen by midnight.

CityLink Gold, CityLink Lime, and LocalLink 85 are diverting around the impacted area. The Penn North Metro Subway station remains closed, with trains bypassing the station. MTA anticipates the station will reopen in the morning.

This response was a significant collective effort of state and local government, alongside community partners and harm reduction teams. The City of Baltimore thanks Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna K. Miller, Maryland's Office of Opioid Response, the Maryland Department of Health, the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, Baltimore County, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Safe Streets, Charm City Care Connection (CCCC), Baltimore Crisis Response Inc., UMD Embrace, We Our Us, the Maryland Peer Advisory Council's Community Peer Project, Torch Foundation, Tuerk House, Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition (BHRC), PEACE Team, Pride Center, Love in the Trenches, Penn North Recovery, Bmore Power, Check It Van, and Meals on Wheels for their assistance in today's response.