At least 25 people were hospitalised on Thursday morning following a suspected mass drug overdose in the Penn North area of West Baltimore, according to local officials.
Five of the individuals are reported to be in critical condition, with others listed as serious.
Emergency responders were alerted around 9:20 a.m. local time (14:20 BST) and arrived to find multiple individuals suffering from overdose symptoms in and around a busy road intersection, on subway platforms, and in nearby alleyways. Fire Chief James Wallace said members of the public had directed emergency crews to several of the affected persons scattered across two intersecting avenues.
While the exact substance involved has not yet been identified, the scale and suddenness of the incident prompted a swift response from city and state authorities. The Maryland Department of Transportation temporarily closed a nearby subway station, rerouted buses, and blocked several streets as first responders worked at the scene.
Baltimore Police confirmed the ongoing emergency on social media platform X, asking residents to avoid the area while fire and emergency services attended to the victims.
State Attorney Ivan Bates described the incident as a sobering reminder of the city’s ongoing opioid crisis. “This serves as a powerful reminder of our city’s ongoing battle against the opioid epidemic,” he said, adding that his office would support efforts to determine the cause of the incident and aid affected communities.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore also addressed the situation, noting that state and city officials were coordinating efforts to support emergency services and impacted residents. “I’m grateful to those who quickly alerted us about this situation, and those who are providing support to the community,” Moore said.
Separately, an update from the city’s mayor, Brandon Scott, issued advice for residents who use drugs; including to never use alone and to carry Naloxone or Narcan – both of which can be collected for free from the city’s health department.
Authorities have yet to confirm whether the overdoses were caused by a contaminated drug supply or a single substance. Investigations are ongoing.
Melissa Enoch
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