Deaf Addiction Services at Maryland

About Deaf Addiction Services at Maryland

Deaf Addiction Services at Maryland (DASAM) is an outpatient addiction and dual-diagnosis program in downtown Baltimore built specifically for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Part of the University of Maryland Medical Center and based at the UM Addiction Treatment Center, they help clients with alcohol, opioid, and other drug problems while also recognizing the added strain of living in a hearing-centered world. Every staff member is fluent in American Sign Language, and on-site interpreters support physical exams, nursing assessments, and one-on-one sessions. They offer traditional outpatient care and coordinate intensive outpatient services with UMMC and other partners, and they serve clients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

Care typically begins with a substance use assessment and medical and psychiatric evaluations, followed by individual and group counseling that can include stress and anger management and DUI/DWI education. For opioid use disorder, they provide methadone and buprenorphine in close coordination with the broader UM addiction treatment programs. Peer connection comes through Deaf support groups, including interpreted NA and AA meetings and separate groups for women and men, alongside relapse prevention planning and addiction education. Beyond clinical care, they offer case management, medical care coordination, help with housing and employment, and disability rights advocacy, and they provide interpreter access for clients who move into other programs.