Erin Russell

Erin serves as Chief of the Center for Harm Reduction Services at the Maryland Department of Health. The Center envisions a Maryland in which health and social service systems meet the needs of people who use drugs in a comprehensive, community-based manner. Erin’s portfolio includes coordination of statewide naloxone distribution, syringe service programs, a harm reduction grant program, and local capacity-building initiatives. She has been at the forefront of integrating harm reduction into larger behavioral health, opioid response, and infectious disease prevention programming at the Department, improving its ability to meet the needs of people who use drugs.

The Maryland Department of Health is responsible for protecting and promoting the health of all Maryland residents through disease prevention, access to care, quality management, and community engagement. It is the leading health agency in Maryland, coordinating statewide with the jurisdictional health departments. Harm reduction is a major component of the Department’s comprehensive approach to the opioid crisis and efforts to address intertwined epidemics of infectious disease and behavioral health.