Maryland is seeking applications for the Advancing Cross-Cutting Engagement and Strategies Service grant program aimed at overdose prevention, harm reduction, and peer support for people who use drugs. The program focuses on reducing morbidity and mortality in this population by supporting direct services that do not require abstinence from substance use as a condition for access.

Key activities under this grant include education on recognizing opioid overdose symptoms and compassionate response strategies, as well as the prescribing and dispensing of naloxone and related supplies to participants. The program further supports the distribution of drug testing strips as required and prioritizes overdose response and prevention (ORP) services for those most likely to witness an overdose, such as people who use drugs and their networks of friends and family.

Core services also encompass distributing sterile injection equipment and other supplies designed to prevent overdose and infectious diseases. Participation in the Rapid Analysis of Drugs (RAD) program is required, as is the provision of peer support services. These combined efforts are designed to create a robust safety net for people who use drugs across Maryland.