BALTIMORE, MD (Tuesday, December 17, 2024) - Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott provided updates on the implementation of his August 2024 Executive Order establishing a framework for administering Baltimore's opioid restitution funds. The effort to ensure transparency, accountability, and community involvement in the use of the funds has progressed significantly since August.

"As we have said from the beginning, the Opioid Restitutions Funds will be utilized to save and change lives impacted by opioid use and the devastating opioid overdose epidemic in our city," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "There are processes that need to be followed, including passing budget legislation and doing the requisite public engagement, in order to ensure that these funds are handled responsibly and with the residents best interest in mind. These processes are moving quickly, and I am deeply proud of the work our administration has done so far to implement my Executive Order on the use of Opioid Restitution Funds, while also protecting our ongoing litigation. We look forward to sharing more when abatement proceedings have concluded."

Key updates include:

Restitution Advisory Board
The application period for the Restitution Advisory Board has closed, with over 180 applications received across all seats. Applications were reviewed anonymously by a selection committee and scored based on candidates' professional and personal experiences engaging with individuals with substance use disorders, understanding of the needs of people who use drugs, familiarity with services and programs to address those needs and commitment to equity.

Interviews have begun with the top-ranked candidates for each seat. Interviews are being conducted by a panel of internal and external stakeholders. Final selections will be announced in January 2025 and the Board's first meeting will be held in early 2025.

Staffing
The City received more than 40 applications for the Executive Director and Program Manager positions outlined in the Executive Order. Finalists have been identified and we anticipate offers being made in December with start dates in early 2025.

Community Engagement Plan
In alignment with the Executive Order, the City is today releasing a draft Community Engagement Plan that outlines a two-step approach to ensure the City's Overdose Response Strategy reflects the current needs and gaps in services.

Residents are encouraged to review the plan here and submit their comments here by January 17, 2025.

As part of this engagement, the City will host four Community Listening Sessions in early 2025 to hear directly from residents about the opioid crisis. Details, including dates, times, and locations, will be shared in early 2025.

Additionally, an online form is available here for residents to submit input about the overdose epidemic and their ideas for solutions.

Accountability and Transparency Plan
The City is also releasing a draft Accountability and Transparency Plan today, which outlines measures to track and publicly share how opioid restitution funds are allocated and their impact.

Residents can review the draft here and submit comments here by January 17, 2025.

Health Department $20M
The Health Department is investing in core public health functions to address the opioid crisis, including investments in epidemiology and data, planning and policy, communications and community mobilization, and assurance of essential services. This includes the creation of a new division within the health department, a Division of Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction that will be led by a new Deputy Commissioner.

Supplemental Budget
Mayor Scott is working with the Board of Estimates and the Baltimore City Council to pass a supplemental budget to create an initial appropriation for the Opioid Restitution Funds (ORF).

This supplemental budget will include:

• Administrative and oversight costs associated with the ORF
• Partial funding for the organizations named in the individual settlement agreements to address the opioid crisis in the city
• Funding for the Health Department to scale up their opioid response efforts
• Funding for the Mayor's Office of Recovery programs to administer grant awards from the ORF
• Funding for the additional Mayor's office positions outlined in the Executive Order
• Contractual support to establish the trust fund
• Funding for community engagement
• Planning costs for the replacement of the Druid Health Clinic
• Staffing and support costs for opioid response and recovery strategies

Additional updates will be posted on the Health Department's web page here.