Baltimore Allocates $2 Million in Opioid Restitution Funds to Community Organizations

Grants will support harm reduction, treatment access, and wraparound services across 11 local groups

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:00pm

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Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced the allocation of $2 million from the city's Opioid Restitution Fund to 11 community-based organizations. The funds will be used to expand access to treatment, harm reduction services, and wraparound support for those impacted by the opioid crisis.

Why it matters

The opioid epidemic has devastated many communities in Baltimore, leading to high rates of overdose and addiction. These restitution funds provide critical resources to local organizations on the frontlines of the crisis, allowing them to scale up their efforts to save lives and support recovery.

The details

The $2 million in grants will be distributed to 11 organizations across Baltimore. The funds will be used for initiatives such as mobile outreach to provide low-barrier access to medication-assisted treatment, harm reduction supply distribution, overdose prevention education, job training and workforce development, housing assistance, and integrated behavioral health services. The grants were developed in partnership with the city's Restitution Advisory Board, which includes community members with lived experience.

  • The grants were announced by Mayor Brandon M. Scott on February 28, 2026.

The players

Brandon M. Scott

The Mayor of Baltimore who announced the allocation of the Opioid Restitution Funds.

Restitution Advisory Board (RAB)

A group established by a 2024 executive order that has been guiding the use of the opioid restitution funds in Baltimore.

Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Overdose Response (BCMOOR)

A city office that partnered with the RAB and Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs to administer the grant process.

Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs (MORP)

A city office that partnered with the RAB and BCMOOR to administer the grant process.

William Staton

A member of the Restitution Advisory Board who expressed pride in the board's work.

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What they’re saying

“With this funding, these 11 organizations will expand accessibility to treatment and care, through mobile services that reach neighborhoods with the greatest need. They will invest in the full array of low-barrier harm reduction services, including drug checking and naloxone distribution. They will help to connect folks to essential services like housing, job training, transportation and education. This work will be lifesaving, especially for communities hit hardest by the overdose crisis.”

— Brandon M. Scott, Mayor of Baltimore

“I am extremely proud — and at the same time carefully humble — to be a part of such ground-breaking service work in the city of Baltimore. The Restitution Advisory Board is comprised of some of the most caring and skilled professionals I have ever met. It is with this continued harnessing of care and applied acumen that this Board will further cultivate life-saving strategies for the populations we serve here in Baltimore.”

— William Staton, Restitution Advisory Board Member

“The Recovery Office is incredibly proud to help administer this grant process and ensure that these vital funds reach the front lines of the overdose crisis. By investing funds in our community, in partnership with BCMOOR, we enable organizations doing critical work to scale their impact.”

— Elizabeth Tatum, Chief Recovery Officer, Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs

What’s next

Future community grant rounds will be announced and awarded competitively through a process developed by the Restitution Advisory Board, Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Overdose Response, and the Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs.

The takeaway

The allocation of $2 million in opioid restitution funds to 11 community organizations in Baltimore demonstrates the city's commitment to addressing the overdose crisis through a multi-pronged approach focused on harm reduction, treatment access, and wraparound services. This investment in local groups on the frontlines of the epidemic has the potential to save lives and support long-term recovery.