Delving into the why and what behind the mass overdose in West Baltimore

By Sheilah Kast,

Published July 21, 2025 at 9:54 AM EDT

An ambulance responds to a call in the Penn North neighborhood on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Photo: Scott Maucione/WYPR

More than two dozen people simultaneously overdosed on a mix of sedatives, fentanyl and other drugs in the Penn North neighborhood July 10. Combining drugs isn't unusual, but this is unprecedented. We talk to WYPR health reporter Scott Maucione.

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Sheilah Kast

Sheilah Kast is the host of On The Record, Monday-Friday, 9:30-10:00 am.

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Melissa Gerr

Melissa Gerr is a Senior Producer for On the Record. She started in public media at Twin Cities Public Television in St. Paul, Minn., where she is from, and then worked as a field producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting in Portland. She made the jump to audio-lover in Baltimore as a digital media editor at Mid-Atlantic Media and Laureate Education, Inc. and as a field producer for "Out of the Blocks." Her beat is typically the off-beat with an emphasis on science, culture and things that make you say, 'Wait, what?'

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Scott Maucione

Scott is the Health Reporter for WYPR. @smaucionewypr

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