Our History
BRIDGES was founded in 2015 to advocate for OPS in Maryland.
Since 2015, we have testified annually to the Maryland General Assembly about the importance of bringing OPS to our state. We have also testified to the Baltimore City Council. Our testimony speaks to the lived experiences of people who use drugs and counters harmful narratives about drugs and community safety. Legislation to permit OPS is yet to be enacted, despite an overdose death rate that continues to rise year by year.
In 2021, we successfully advocated for a bill decriminalizing paraphernalia in MD. Unfortunately, Governor Larry Hogan vetoed the law. We’re fighting back.
We organize pop-up demonstration OPS, testify at legislative hearings, conduct community outreach, and promote harm reduction policy. We shape the conversation around harm reduction policy in Maryland. Our members regularly speak at events and engage with the media to promote the value of harm reduction.