Yesterday, West Baltimore was the scene of a mass overdose event that resulted in at least 27 individuals being taken to local hospitals. According to FOX Baltimore, the incident occurred around 9:25 a.m. at the intersection of Pennsylvania Ave. and North Ave. First responders arrived to find multiple people unconscious, with seven reported as being in critical condition and 15 in serious condition.
In response to the incident, Mayor Brandon Scott, alongside the Baltimore Fire Dept. Chief James Wallace and other officials have been working to escalate community outreach and harm reduction initiatives rapidly. Following the mass overdose, harm reduction teams have been deployed to distribute resources, including Narcan, test strips, and safe use kits, attempting to head off any further tragedies. "First responders, police, firefighters, and health care workers were 'out all night,'" Mayor Scott said, as reported by CBS News Baltimore.
The substance that caused the overdoses has not been confirmed. Still, local witnesses at the scene suggested the narcotic, referred to as "New Jack City," might have been laced with dangerous chemicals like Freon or antifreeze. Amid ongoing investigations, Mayor Scott advised individuals to take caution and to seek help if needed. The Baltimore Police are still working to determine what the substance was and to identify who distributed it.
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