Maryland adds RAD drug data to overdose tracking

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Media Contacts:
Lt. Governor: Rachel Sawicki, Director of Communications, [email protected]
MDH: Amanda Hils, Assistant Director for Media Relations, [email protected]
​For Immediate Release
April 2, 2026

Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, Maryland Department of Health announce update to Maryland Overdose Data Dashboard with RAD data

Baltimore, MD— Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller and the Maryland Department of Health today announced a significant update to the Marylan​d Overdose Data Dashboard, which now includes data from the Rapid Analysis of Drugs (RAD) program.

The statewide drug-checking program analyzes the composition of residues from routinely returned equipment submitted by Opioid-Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Programs (OADPOP). The inclusion of RAD data in the dashboard gives treatment providers a clearer, more up-to-date picture of the substances circulating in communities across Maryland.

“Every life lost to overdose is a tragedy, and every life saved is a reminder of why this work matters,” said Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, Chair of the Maryland Overdose Response Advisory Council. “By expanding access to real-time data through tools like the RAD program, we are giving communities, treatment providers, and public health leaders the information they need to act quickly, address emerging drug threats head-on, and save lives. Maryland is committed to meeting this crisis with urgency, innovation, and compassion.”

The RAD program was launched in 2021 to increase near-real-time data on emerging drug trends to inform overdose response and drug user health. To date, the program has tested more than 6,000 samples from 15 jurisdictions, delivering results directly to participants while helping inform statewide overdose prevention strategies. The program has also been critical in identifying emerging substances, including xylazine and medetomidine, in the drug supply.

“Maryland continues to see a decline in fatal overdoses, reaching a 10-year low, and this dashboard addition is another tool to help us keep moving in the right direction,” said Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani. “This program, coupled with easy access to this data, enables us to arm stakeholders with the information they need to make informed decisions about the substances in their ZIP codes and how to address trends.”

Learn more about the RAD program at health.maryland.gov/RAD and explore the Maryland Overdose Data Dashboard at health.m​aryland.gov/ overdo​sedata.

Lt. Governor Aruna Miller chairs the Maryland Overdose Response Advisory Council (MORAC) and oversees the work at the Maryland Office of Overdose Response (MOOR).

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The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management and community engagement.

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