Decline in Overdose Deaths in Montgomery County Montgomery County saw the number of overdose deaths fall in 2024 (chart above). Overdoses involving opioids were down 48 percent, while deadly interactions with fentanyl dropped 52 percent. There were 83 fatal overdoses in 2024 compared to 138 in 2023.
You can keep up with the latest reported numbers by visiting Maryland’s
Overdose Data Dashboard.
The 83 overdose deaths in 2024 mark the lowest number of fatalities since 2015. For close to 10 years, deadly overdoses have been rising across Maryland and in Montgomery County. The County saw a 188 percent increase from 2012 to 2023.
One of the main culprits was opioids, which accounted for 90 percent of all intoxication deaths in 2020. In 2021, we saw the most with 142 overdose deaths reported. And in 2023, fentanyl-laced drugs ignited new concerns about
overdoses among young adults and teenagers.
We can attribute this reversal to many things, including outreach, public awareness campaigns, education and harm reduction initiatives. Our Department of Health and Human Services was able to speak directly to parents through
fentanyl awareness forums in our community, which helped increase awareness about the severity of the problem.
Additionally, programs like STEER and the launch of our Crisis Stabilization Room (which provides mental health and substance use assessments, stabilization, treatment and referrals for people in crisis as a community-based alternative to jail, emergency rooms, or inpatient admission) have helped us intervene and get hundreds of people on the path to care and treatment. In each of the last two years, we have distributed nearly 10,000 doses of the anti-overdose medication Narcan into our community to help prevent deaths from opioids.
There is another result of all this education, awareness and the proliferation of Narcan. We are excited that deaths are down, but we are also pleased that there are fewer 911 calls for overdoses and fewer visits to our emergency rooms because of drug use. In 2024, ER visits due to overdose were down 30 percent.
Health officials continue to collaborate with schools, the police department and the community on education and intervention. However, officials remain concerned about a rise in fentanyl use within specific populations such as Latino youth and African American men over 55 years old. That is one reason why groups like the
Latino Health Initiative and
African American Health Program exist, to help reach the people who desperately need to receive the message.
We have made significant strides in reducing drug overdoses in Montgomery County, but even one life lost is one too many. Every individual we lose leaves a profound ripple effect on their loved ones and our community—connections we often do not fully grasp until it is too late. Today, let’s honor our progress while allowing it to fuel our commitment to even more life-saving efforts. To learn more about the dangers of opioids and other substances, visit
knowtherisksmc.org.
Department of Permitting Stakeholders Forum This week, I had the chance to welcome many members of our business community to Montgomery County’s Stakeholders Forum, hosted by our
Department of Permitting Services (DPS).
(Photos)DPS plays a vital role in keeping projects moving and supporting our local economy. Whether you are building a backyard shed or a high-rise, your projects matter, and DPS is here to help make the process smoother, faster and more transparent.
Today, innovations, technology improvements and customer service enhancements all work to help customers complete projects faster. From online permitting tools to in-person support in Wheaton, DPS is focused on serving you better.
They have launched new
GIS maps to improve access to property information and the
eSolar program to help streamline residential solar permitting. DPS has also updated guides to help restaurants open more quickly. The new
Permitting Dashboard provides transparency around plan review timelines, so projects are no longer stuck in limbo.
These are changes that our business community asked for. I remember hearing from owners and operators directly during my first year as County Executive. The County has responded with tools that make it easier to do business in Montgomery County.
At this week’s forum, key partners like the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Affairs provided updates. Breakout sessions focused on zoning, fire code and land development changes were also held.
Under the leadership of Director Rabbiah Sabbakhan, DPS is becoming a world-class department dedicated to exceptional service. We have made progress, but there is more to do—and your input remains key.
I encourage you to visit
montgomerycountymd.gov/dps and discover how we can help meet your needs. There, you will also find the DPS
Customer Bill of Rights, which emphasizes our commitment to providing excellent customer service.
Fifth Year Anniversary of COVID-19 This week, five years ago, the Maryland Department of Health notified us that Montgomery County had the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State when three residents tested positive.
I remember that day vividly. We knew this virus was coming, but the reality of it hitting our community changed everything. We mobilized immediately-- pulling together our public health team, emergency response and hospital systems to prepare for what was ahead. Because this was a new virus which no one had seen before, there were many unknowns. We made difficult decisions based on the latest science about this emerging threat. I worked closely with our health team and trusted them to help provide the best information so we could make the best decisions to protect our residents and lessen the impact.
We saw what happened at the start of the pandemic in New York City—hospitals were overwhelmed and people died at an alarming rate. We were determined to do everything in our power to prevent that from happening here. Our goal was simple: save as many lives as possible.
COVID-19 became one of the biggest challenges this County has ever faced. To date, we have lost more than 2,500 residents to COVID-19—96 percent of whom were over the age of 65. The totals can be found on the
Maryland Health Department’s COVID-19 page.
While many have moved on from the urgency of those early years, for the families who lost loved ones, the pain and trauma do not just go away. Between 2020 and 2022, COVID-19 accounted for 9 percent of all deaths in the County trailing only heart disease and cancer. Many people did not have the chance to be with loved ones in the end. That kind of trauma lingers and can be haunting. Our thoughts remain with those who lost family members, friends and colleagues.
What stands out most from our response is how our County came together. Our employees, our residents and our health professionals—everyone played a role in keeping our community as safe as possible. One of my proudest accomplishments as County Executive is that Montgomery County led the nation with some of the lowest death rates and highest vaccination rates among large jurisdictions. I always tell people I am grateful for so many County residents who trust the science and believe in medical professionals.
While every part of County government was involved in this response, I want to recognize our Department of Health and Human Services. Montgomery County is unique in Maryland—we are the only jurisdiction that runs its own health department. Every other county, and Baltimore City, relies on the State. But here, we created our own public health infrastructure, and during the pandemic, those investments saved lives.
The pandemic also forced us to confront long-standing inequities in healthcare. The lessons we learned—how we deliver health services, how we support our most vulnerable residents and even how we communicate with the public—have shaped the way we operate today. From treating patients during the pandemic, we learned that many people had other health issues that went unaddressed, which made recovering from COVID-19 difficult. That has prompted us to use clinics and our health care partners to help more people stay on top of their health.
What we experienced five years ago still holds true today: our public health system saves lives and builds a healthier, more resilient community. We will continue working to protect and support all our residents.
Read Across America Month On Sunday, March 2, I got to revisit my teaching days as I shared some stories with children in Silver Spring for Read Across America Day. This is something I look forward to every year, and I want to thank the
Jewish Council for the Aging for helping to make this event a success. Every year they pair children and volunteers together to share this day. There were also reading events in Gaithersburg and Wheaton. I know that the volunteers get just as much out of it as the children.
(Photos)On Tuesday, I also got a chance to read to children at the new
CentroNía child care facility in Silver Spring. We launched this center for low-income working families last year to help provide quality early education for children before they are ready for kindergarten. The environment is bilingual and multicultural, which helps more of our families find a safe place for their children to learn and grow.
(Photos) Montgomery County Public Libraries is an incredible resource for people of all ages. We continue to invest in reading resources and Montgomery County Public Schools programs, like our County’s pre-K education infrastructure. Of all the critical investments we could make to improve educational outcomes, I strongly believe that universal pre-K would be the most effective and create the greatest benefits.
Both the Jewish Council for the Aging and CentroNía have a long history of helping families in our community. Spreading the joy of reading is just one way to contribute. I urge you to seek out ways to help these wonderful organizations or others helping people throughout Montgomery County.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
