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Journal of Science Policy & Governance | Volume 18, Issue 04 | September 27, 2021

Policy Memo: Reducing Emergency Department Visits and Opioid-Related Deaths in Maryland

Spencer Andrews (1)*, Cara M. DeAngelis (2)*, Somayeh Hooshmand (3)*, Neysha Martinez-Orengo (4)*, Melissa Zajdel (5)*
  1. Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
  2. University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH
  3. Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
  4. Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR
  5. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
*All authors contributed equally

Corresponding author: [email protected]
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https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG180403​​
Keywords: opioid epidemic; Maryland HOPE and Treatment Act of 2017; hospital discharge; opioid use disorder; peer recovery specialist; vulnerable populations; Maryland General Assembly
Executive Summary: The state of Maryland has consistently ranked among the top states by opioid-involved overdose deaths. Emergency rooms in Maryland have been overrun with patients struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD). While hospitals are heavily burdened, it has become clear that they serve as a critical entry point for OUD prevention programs. Despite this, when section 19-310 of the Maryland Heroin and Opioid Prevention Effort (HOPE) and Treatment Act of 2017 passed, it included vague language requiring hospitals to create their own discharge protocols for such patients rather than putting into place statewide mandates. We propose two alternative solutions. First, the Maryland General Assembly can amend the HOPE and Treatment Act of 2017 to mandate that peer recovery services be made available during inpatient care, within the emergency department, and post-discharge for patients presenting with OUD. Second, we recommend the addition of a subtitle to describe how to establish and operate mobile clinic treatment programs. The former amendment would offer a prompt solution that could reduce opioid-related hospitalizations and deaths in the state. It will also help reach underrepresented populations who are the least likely to access peer recovery support and other health services in response to OUD.​

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Spencer Andrews is currently a postbaccalaureate fellow studying object and face recognition pathways in the brain. He holds a B.S. in Neuroscience from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
 
Cara DeAngelis is currently a postdoctoral fellow studying genetic regulation in the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme Disease. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Science in Ohio.
 
Somayeh Hooshmand is currently a postdoctoral fellow studying cholesterol metabolism and molecular, biochemical, and developmental processes that underlie genetic syndromes. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Genetics from University Putra Malaysia in Malaysia and a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Public Policy from Old Dominion University in Virginia.
 
Neysha Martinez-Orengo is currently a postdoctoral fellow studying the validation of candidate imaging biomarkers to better understand the pathophysiology of infectious diseases and improve non-invasive diagnostic techniques. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the Ponce Health Sciences University in Puerto Rico and is a member of the Puerto Rico-Science Policy Action Network (PR-SPAN).
 
Melissa Zajdel is currently a postdoctoral fellow studying how social network systems influence adaptation to chronic illnesses and stressful life events. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University and a M.S. in Global Health from Syracuse University.
 
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Federica La Russa for her help in preparing this manuscript. We are also thankful for the sponsored workshop series available to all authors interested in submitting to this special edition.
 
Disclaimer
This policy memo reflects the views of the authors and not necessarily those of their affiliations. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
DISCLAIMER: The findings and conclusions published herein are solely attributed to the author and not necessarily endorsed or adopted by the Journal of Science Policy and Governance. Articles are distributed in compliance with copyright and trademark agreements.

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