Recent News

Baltimore attacking overdose epidemic (WMAR)

Aug 31st, 2016

On Baltimore's Block, they deal in drugs of a different kind---naloxone, which is an antidote for opioids, and one of the city’s health educators, Nathan Fields, offers a simple message. 

"If you save a life today, you can make a better choice tomorrow,” Fields said. “If you don't save a life today and that person dies, then there's no tomorrow." 

New labels warn against mixing opioids, benzodiazepines (CNN)

Aug 31st, 2016

In the Food and Drug Administration's latest move to help stem the tide of drug overdoses, it is now requiring "black-box warnings" on nearly 400 products to warn about the dangers of using opioid painkillers in combination with benzodiazepines, drugs commonly used to treat neurological and psychological conditions including seizure, anxiety and insomnia. 

Both opioids, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone, and benzodiazepines, such as diazepam and alprazolam, can slow the central nervous system. Using them together can lead to extreme sleepiness, respiratory depression, coma and death.

Baltimore City Health Department Launches “Healthy Baltimore 2020”

Aug 30th, 2016

BALTIMORE, Md. (August 30, 2016)—The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) today released Healthy Baltimore 2020, a strategic blueprint for health and wellness in Baltimore City through the lens of health equity.

 

Baltimore City Health Department unveils plan to address health disparities (Baltimore Sun)

Aug 30th, 2016

Citing race as the difference maker for many of the city's health problems, the Baltimore City Health Department has developed a plan to assess and address those disparities.

Baltimore City Health Department, Maryland Department of Agriculture to Implement Conduct Mosquito Control Activities

Aug 28th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (August 28, 2016)– In keeping with Baltimore City’s response plan, the Baltimore City Health Department and Maryland Department of Agriculture will expand mosquito control services in Baltimore City Sunday, due to a public health concern over the potential for mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus and Zika virus.

Health and neighborhood are too often linked. These people are out to change that. (Ensia)

Aug 25th, 2016

As an emergency room physician in Washington, D.C., it didn’t take long for Leana Wen to notice a pattern: Patients making repeat visits to the ER, wheezing and coughing from asthma exacerbations or suffering from lead poisoning, conditions that most often afflict those living in low-income neighborhoods.

She helped soothe her patients’ immediate needs, but she was acutely aware she was only providing temporary relief, leaving the root causes unchecked — and a gap in the health of residents living in the city’s poorest ZIP codes versus those in the wealthiest. She wanted the opportunity to intervene earlier in those ER patients’ lives.

“If a child is lead poisoned to start with … it’s hurting that child’s chances before they begin,” she says.

Santelises' vision (Baltimore Sun)

Aug 21st, 2016

After just weeks on the job, the new Baltimore schools CEO, Sonja Santelises, has zeroed in on one of the trickiest issues in any public school system, and particularly one in a poor urban one like

EpiPens needed by those with severe food allergies are getting expensive (Baltimore Sun)

Aug 19th, 2016

Parents gearing up for the start of school have likely noticed that one important item for kids with severe food allergies has gotten a lot more expensive.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Issues Statement Regarding Hogan Administration's Announcement of $500,000 for Baltimore’s Safe Streets Program

Aug 18th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (August 18, 2016)–Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen released the following statement following Governor Larry Hogan’s announcement of $500,000 in bridge funding for Baltimore City’s Safe Streets program:

Baltimore schools vying for federal funding to boost mental health resources (Baltimore Sun)

Aug 18th, 2016

The Baltimore school system has applied for a federal grant that would funnel up to $2.3 million for mental health services to 13 schools in West Baltimore.

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