Recent News

Hospitals can fight the opioid crisis by treating addiction like the disease it is (Modern Healthcare)

May 5th, 2018

In their guest commentary, Evan Behrle, Dr. Shelly Choo and Dr. Leana Wen discuss the Health Department's Levels of Care initiative. 

In many doctor's offices and hospitals across the country, the response to someone seeking addiction treatment is simple: "We don't do that here."We are living through the deadliest drug epidemic in American history. Overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under age 50. "We don't do that here"

Read the entire story here.

Leana Wenopioids

Searching for solutions to the opioid crisis (Modern Healthcare)

May 5th, 2018

Healthcare executives and public health officials pushed for easier access to drugs that reduce dependency on painkillers, as well as for a less punitive approach to dealing with those addicted to opioids, in sessions at a conference on April 25-26.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioids

Note From The Commissioner: Fostering a Culture of Equity, Diversity, and Respect.

May 4th, 2018

Last Saturday, I had the honor of participating in the 2018 Women of the World (WOW) Festival held at Notre Dame of Maryland University. I shared my personal and professional journey with some incredible trailblazing women, including Major General Linda Singh, the first African-American and first woman to become Adjutant General of Maryland.

I was especially honored to meet Tarana Burke, the founder of the #MeToo movement, whose personal story and heroic resilience has been so moving to witness. Ms. Burke spoke about the intersection of race, gender, and class in her experience as a survivor of sexual violence and as an advocate for women and girls.

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Trending News Today (Specialty Pharmacy Times)

May 4th, 2018

Baltimore, Maryland’s health department and a national advocacy group urged the Trump administration to invoke government authority to slash naloxone prices and increase access to the opioid overdo

naloxone

Bmore Healthy Newsletter: May 4, 2018

May 4th, 2018

Click here to read the 5/4/18 newsletter. 

In this issue:

  • Note from the Commissioner
  • Mayor Pugh and Dr. Wen Announce Initiative with Hospitals to Improve Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder 
  • Dr. Wen Gives Keynote Address at AARP Leadership Day
  • Dr. Wen Voices Support for Baltimore City “Diaper Duty” Legislation  
  • & More

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Baltimore Officials Urge Trump To Lower Naloxone Price Through Law Last Considered During Anthrax Scare (Inside Health Policy)

May 4th, 2018

Baltimore health officials are urging the Trump administration to use a law, which was last considered by the Bush administration during the 2001 anthrax scare , to cut the price of the opioid-over

Leana Wenopioidsnaloxone

Baltimore officials urge White House to sidestep patents on opioid overdose antidotes (STAT)

May 3rd, 2018

The Baltimore health department and a consumer advocacy group are urging the Trump administration to sidestep patents on a pair of opioid overdose antidotes in order to combat the opioid crisis.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioidsnaloxone

Gottlieb suggests sea change as administration looks to alter course of Rx drug prices (BioWorld)

May 3rd, 2018

Putting drug prices front and center at the Food and Drug Law Institute's (FDLI) annual conference Thursday, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb took on some of the current rules and restrictions that prevent true market-based pricing and competition.

As Gottlieb was speaking at FDLI, the government watchdog group Public Citizen and the Baltimore City Health Department were calling on the Trump administration to address the high price of specific drugs used to reverse life-threatening opioid overdoses. The groups urged the government to use its march-in rights to enable generic competition for Kaleo Inc.'s naloxone auto-injector Evzio and Adapt Pharma Ltd.'s naloxone nasal spray Narcan.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioidsnaloxone

Gov’t Urged To Invoke Authority To Boost OD Antidote Access (WJZ)

May 3rd, 2018

The Baltimore City Health Department is looking to the Trump administration to expand access to the overdose reversal drug naloxone. It’s not the supply but the cost of the drug that jurisdictions like Baltimore are struggling with.

Watch the full video here.

Leana Wennaloxoneopioids

Baltimore urges feds to invoke authority to boost OD antidote access (Daily Record)

May 3rd, 2018

The Trump administration should invoke government authority to slash prices of a life-saving overdose drug or provide funding to expand access amid the coast-to-coast opioid epidemic, Baltimore’s health department and a national advocacy group said Thursday.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioidsnaloxone

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