Benzodiazepine detections in Maryland’s illicit drug supply more than doubled from April through July compared with the same period last year, prompting a warning from the Baltimore City Health Department, The Baltimore Sun reported Nov. 2.
The sedatives appeared in 31 drug samples tested across Maryland during those months in 2026, up from 14 in 2025, according to the department. Their presence can make overdoses harder to treat.
Benzodiazepines, commonly prescribed for anxiety and insomnia, can end up in other drugs without users knowing. Samples that tested positive for benzodiazepines also contained fentanyl, xylazine, cocaine or gabapentin, the department said.
The trend poses a clinical challenge for emergency responders and hospitals. Naloxone reverses opioid overdoses but does not counteract the sedative effects of benzodiazepines. Because opioids may also be present, the department still advises administering naloxone whenever an opioid overdose is suspected.
The warning adds benzodiazepines to the list of nonopioid sedatives, including xylazine, that public health officials are tracking in the illicit drug supply.
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