Recent News

With the heroin epidemic rising, it seems wrong that the primary anti-overdose drug’s price is skyrocketing

Sep 11th, 2015

The heroin epidemic is continuing to get worse around the U.S., and currently the anti-overdose drug naloxone is the main medication that can block the effects of opioids.

Baltimore Fights Heroin Overdoses With Antidote Outreach (NPR) September 9, 2015

Sep 10th, 2015

A suspected case of measles. A rabid fox on the loose. A recall of a dye used in tattoos. A drug epidemic that's claiming hundreds of lives.

Those are just a few of the problems that Dr. Leana Wen confronts in a typical week as the Baltimore City Health Commissioner. While they all have to be dealt with, it's clear that heroin is among Wen's gravest concerns. Right now, she's focused on stopping overdoses and saving lives.

Md. Health Officials Work To Combat Overdose Epidemic (WJZ) September 5, 2015

Sep 10th, 2015

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Combating Baltimore’s epidemic drug addiction. As part of Maryland’s Overdose Awareness Week, new actions are being taken to tackle this health emergency.

Tracey Leong explains.

City and state leaders are implementing the mayor’s overdose plan to encourage treatment and fight the deadly epidemic.

“We are fully recognizing this as a public health emergency and are tackling it first-hand,” said Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner.

City reopens Safe Streets East Baltimore office (Baltimore Sun) September 4, 2015

Sep 10th, 2015

City officials are reopening East Baltimore's Safe Streets program, which closed in July when guns and drugs were found stashed in the office.

Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana S. Wen, who administers the anti-violence program, said city officials have done a comprehensive review of the McElderry Park site. That has led to "new training and security protocols to strengthen management and oversight," she said.

Baltimore health officials demonstrate how to use Narcan (WBAL) September 1, 2015

Sep 10th, 2015

BALTIMORE— Baltimore health officials are demonstrating how to use a tool that can help save lives.

Marking the first Overdose Awareness Week in Maryland, Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen and her staff are training people how to reverse the deadly effects of an overdose and save lives.

Baltimore City leaders highlight overdose problem with Overdose Awareness Day (WMAR) August 31, 2015

Sep 10th, 2015

In a city with a history of overdoses and addiction, more help is on the way to stop the deadly path of drugs.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Leana Wen took part in different events across the city as a part of International Overdose Awareness Day.  That included attending Naloxone training at a few of the 16 different Dontdie.org stations.

 

Trauma training aims to help city employees in dealing with public (Baltimore Sun) August 27, 2015

Sep 10th, 2015

Stanley Smith has spent nearly four decades helping troubled young people earn GEDs and get jobs, but he learned something new this week that he thinks will help him do his job even better.

Smith, an employment advocate with the Mayor's Office of Employment Development, was among 150 Baltimore city employees who sat through training on how to recognize, understand and respond to people who have experienced some form of trauma.

Baltimore Fights Heroin Overdoses With Antidote Outreach

Sep 9th, 2015

A suspected case of measles. A rabid fox on the loose. A recall of a dye used in tattoos. A drug epidemic that's claiming hundreds of lives.

Md. Health Officials Work To Combat Overdose Epidemic

Sep 5th, 2015

As part of Maryland’s Overdose Awareness Week, new actions are being taken to tackle this health emergency.

Safe Streets East Site to Reopen, West Baltimore Program Expansion to Begin

Sep 4th, 2015

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen announced today that the Safe Streets East location in McElderry Park will begin limited operations starting today, transitioning to full operations over the coming weeks, following a comprehensive review of the program which resulted in implementation of new training and security protocols to strengthen management and oversight.

Additionally Dr. Wen also announced that the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) has introduced today a Request for Proposals (RFP) to offer community- based organizations in West Baltimore the opportunity to bring the program credited with reducing gun violence to their neighborhoods. The new site will be Baltimore City’s fifth Safe Streets location. Current sites include: Cherry Hill, Mondawmin, Park Heights, and McElderry Park.

Pages