Recent News

What does public health do for us? (Winchester Sun)

Apr 2nd, 2018

Public health saved your life today. You just didn’t know it,” is a saying of Dr. Leana Wen, the Baltimore City health commissioner.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wen

Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Baltimore Improved with New Facility (Addiction Now)

Apr 2nd, 2018

Baltimore will soon open a new center for people who need short-term drug and alcohol treatment. The center will provide basic services such as first aid, withdrawal management and it will refer people who have a substance use disorder to receive further drug and alcohol treatment in a long-term facility. 

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioids

Making Public Health Visible (Big Cities Health Coalition Blog)

Apr 2nd, 2018

When public health is invisible, we only end up talking about it when things go wrong; people tend to think about public health agencies as entities that respond to infectious disease outbreaks or shut down a restaurant due to health code violations. We frequently think about health as healthcare, but what determines how long and how well we live is less about what happens in the doctor’s office and more about where we live, the air we breathe, and the availability of other resources in our communities. At the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD), we believe that all issues – education, housing, employment, public safety, and beyond – can and should be tied back to health. We are committed to making the progress earned through public health visible, and to make the case for incorporating health-in-all policies across the City.

Read the full blog by Commissioner Dr. Wen and Special Assistant to the CommissionerNarintohn Luangrath here.

Leana Wenopioids

Maryland's First Stabilization Center to Open in Baltimore (OH&S)

Mar 30th, 2018

City officials announced Wednesday plans for a stabilization center in Baltimore, Maryland, as part of the city’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis. The stabilization center would be the first in the state and would serve as a safe place for drug users to receive basic first aid, withdrawal management, and screening and referral to treatment on-site for those with a substance use disorder. 

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioids

Note From The Commissioner: Stabilization Center Announcement

Mar 30th, 2018

Yesterday, I joined Mayor Catherine Pugh and Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford to announce plans for the first Stabilization Center in Maryland—the beginning of Baltimore’s efforts to create a 24/7 “ER” for addiction and mental health. Mayor Pugh and Chief of Operations Pete Hammen have championed the Stabilization Center from when they were in the State Legislature; they were instrumental to Baltimore City securing the $3.6 million for capital costs for the Center. Mayor Pugh is truly at the forefront of leaders across the country to call for science-based, compassion treatment of individuals with the disease of addiction.

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Unique ‘emergency room’ for addicts to open in Baltimore (Washington Post)

Mar 29th, 2018

Baltimore is trying a new way to treat people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, opening up a unique facility that will offer a safe, short-term place for them to recover and connect with other services.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioids

Bmore Healthy Newsletter: March 29, 2018

Mar 29th, 2018

Click here to read the 3/29/18 newsletter. Subscribe to the Bmore Healthy newsletter.

In this issue:

  • Note from the Commissioner
  • City Officials Announce Creation of State’s First Stabilization Center
  • Dr. Wen Speaks at Press Event Celebrating 8th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
  • The Hill: Dr. Wen Pens Op-Ed on the City’s Lawsuit Against HHS for Cuts to Teen Pregnancy Prevention Funding
  • and more

Officials announce plans to open ‘stabilization’ center (Washington Post)

Mar 28th, 2018

State and local officials have announced plans to open a “stabilization” center in Baltimore to help people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioids

Lt. Governor Speaks at Opening of Maryland’s First Crisis Stabilization Center (WCBC)

Mar 28th, 2018

Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford today joined Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh, Maryland Department of Health Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health Dr. Barbara J. Bazron, and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen to announce the opening of Maryland's first crisis stabilization center. The stabilization center will provide basic first aid, withdrawal management, and screening and referral to treatment on-site for individuals with a substance use disorder.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioids

City, state plan first ‘stabilization center’ to treat addiction (Baltimore Fishbowl)

Mar 28th, 2018

City and state agencies are partnering to open a stabilization center in Baltimore to connect people struggling with addiction to necessary services.

Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford, Mayor Catherine Pugh and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen were some of the public officials on hand this morning to announce the plan.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioids

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