Underreported overdose rates and legislation impacting policing

MARYLAND – While overdose reversal drugs such as Narcan can help save lives, local law enforcement say its easy access is causing underreporting of drug overdoses in Maryland.

In 2021 – the number of overdoses was around 100,000, and police say today’s numbers may be much higher than expected.

Law enforcement tell 47 ABC News that loved ones and active drug users have access to Narcan without any official record of its use in the case of an overdose and, as a result, police agencies and health departments across the state are unable to accurately track yearly overdose data.

Health officials and police say sometimes people are scared to report overdoses because they think they will be arrested, or that they can’t afford health care.

Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis says typically “law enforcement only gets notified when the unexpected occurs, and that is when someone is using an opioid suddenly overdoses and those in the proximity and those come home and locate the individual completely out.”

Sheriff Lewis went on to tell us data on where the most overdoses are taking place could be useful to law enforcement. He also believes that lawmakers need to let law enforcement quote “proactively police” instead of just responding to calls.

“They do not pass any legislation to protect our victims of the crimes and give victims greater rights. Instead, it is all for the criminals and quite frankly, I am fed up with them,” Sheriff Lewes stated. “Lawmakers have legislated me out of business.”

Sheriff Lewis says because of these difficulties, this will be his fifth and final term.