First responders in Baltimore need help fighting overdoses.

The Baltimore Sun's recent reporting on Baltimore's opioid crisis rightly underscores the enormous strain the epidemic is placing on the city's first responders. As a public health expert who has studied the disproportionate impact of opioid overdoses on our communities, I believe we cannot ignore that fentanyl is a major contributor to overdose deaths both in Baltimore and across the country.

Baltimore's brave first responders are fighting this crisis on the front lines every day. However, due to the limitations of our state's rules of operation, they only have one opioid reversal tool in their toolbox. This lack of choice prevents access to treatments that may be more effective in certain situations. Our emergency personnel need access to all FDA-approved opioid reversals, including those designed to combat the unique potency of fentanyl (“Baltimore has been hit hard. An overdose prevention center could help.” Sept. 20).

The opioid crisis has evolved, and so has our response. The Baltimore Fire Department deserves every option available to save lives, and denying them access to all available tools will only further strain limited resources. It is time to expand state standing orders to cover all FDA-approved overdose treatments to address the growing challenge of the opioid crisis.

—Stephen B. Thomas, Baltimore

The author is director of the Maryland Center for Health Equity at the University of Maryland.

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