Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Maryland To Dole Out $3M To Communities To Address State's Opioid Crisis
Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday that the state will distribute $3 million in grants to fight the heroin epidemic in Maryland, but none of it will go to Baltimore — which has accounted for more than a third of the state's heroin-related overdose deaths in recent years. The city didn't apply for a share of the money, the governor's office said. A Baltimore police spokesman said the money wouldn't have helped the city. (Dresser, 8/8)
A group called Heroin is Killing my Town is trying to save Akron from a rash of overdoses this summer.The Massachusetts nonprofit called activists to Akron in a Facebook Live post Sunday, planning a rally on Main Street for Tuesday. So far more than 800 of the 11,000 invited on the group's Facebook page have indicated they will attend the "Call to Action for Summit County Heroin Crisis" at 7 on the sidewalks around the 200 block. (Conn, 8/8)
Anyone who eats out or gets groceries in Hamilton County might see a sign about the heroin epidemic soon. Hamilton County Public Health environmental health inspectors were distributing 1,500 heroin awareness posters on Monday to restaurants, from fast-food to fine-dining, grocery stores, taverns and more licensed places where people go for food. One fact on the posters: "Heroin and other opiates kill at least 23 people in Ohio every week." (DeMio, 8/8)