Mayor Scott Awarded With Chairman's Leadership Award and Citation from The Governor for Baltimore's Progress Fighting the Opioid Epidemic

BALTIMORE, MD (Tuesday, April 29, 2025) - Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott attended the 37th Annual Tuerk Conference on Mental Health and Addiction Treatment.

Hosted by the Maryland Chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD-Maryland) and the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, the Tuerk Conference brings together clinicians, advocates, researchers, and policymakers committed to improving mental health and substance use disorder treatment. At this year's conference, Hope and New Opportunities in 2025, Mayor Scott received two awards: the Chairman's Leadership Award for the city's progress on fighting the opioid epidemic, and a citation from the Governor's Office recognizing Mayor Scott's leadership in guiding the city's efforts to reduce overdoses and expand equitable access to substance use care.

"Thank you for these awards. I humbly accept them on behalf of everyone who is fighting to end the overdose crisis, not just in our city and our state but our country - but even more importantly, for all of those that we lost," said Mayor Scott. "We know there are no simple solutions to such a complex problem, but together we've worked to mitigate harm and ensure accountability for those responsible. From top to bottom, this is about building a Baltimore where people impacted by the overdose crisis are supported, safe, and thriving. Together, our work has made a difference - and is making a difference - here in Baltimore City, across the State of Maryland, and throughout the United States."

As the largest one-day conference for behavioral health professionals on the East Coast, the annual Tuerk Conference offers a robust day of education, collaboration, and networking. Attendees heard from national experts during keynote sessions, panel discussions, and specialized breakout workshops on topics including integrated care, trauma-informed practices, harm reduction, and innovations in behavioral health.

"The Tuerk Conference is the premier addiction and mental health conference in the Maryland area," said Rob White, Tuerk Conference Chair. "The goal is to bring in national-level speakers, the latest ideas, and the most effective treatment practices for the addiction community in Maryland. During this very difficult time of budget cuts and the dismantling of the federal support for addiction and mental health treatment efforts, we remain focused on positive developments in the field."

For more information, including the full agenda and speaker lineup, visit www.ncaddmaryland.org.