As heroin crisis continues to rack up overdose deaths in Maryland, Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford Hosts First Heroin Summit In Cecil County

In 2013, heroin-related overdose deaths (464) outnumbered homicides (387), a 95 percent increase in heroin-related overdose deaths since 2010. Preliminary findings for 2014 show overall heroin-related overdose deaths have continued to rise and will outpace those in 2013 by approximately 20 percent. There is growing evidence that many new heroin addictions stem from the abuse of prescription painkillers. Once addicted to these opioids, individuals may switch to increasingly cheap and “available” heroin.