A recent report from Johns Hopkins University’s 21st Century Cities Initiative reveals alarming disparities in how drug overdoses affect Baltimore’s population. The study, based on the 2023 Baltimore Area Survey, found that over half of adults in the area without a high school diploma know someone who has died from a drug overdose, starkly higher than any other socioeconomic group.

Led by Michael Bader, a sociologist at Johns Hopkins, the research highlights the profound impact of the drug epidemic on the city’s most vulnerable communities. The survey, which included 1,352 participants from Baltimore City and County, showed that 40% of respondents know someone addicted to drugs, with over 25% having lost someone to a drug-related death.

The findings underscore a significant socioeconomic divide: individuals with annual incomes below $30,000 are four times more likely to have lost loved ones to overdoses compared to those earning above $110,000. Additionally, those without a high school diploma are nearly four times more likely to have experienced a drug-related death within their circle than those with advanced degrees.

While the percentage of black and white residents familiar with overdose victims is roughly equal, white residents are less likely to know multiple people struggling with addiction. These insights aim to guide resource allocation to support affected communities and address the broader losses faced by Baltimore.

Source: Hub