Recent News

The Health 202: Trump talked tough on drugs. But applying the death penalty to traffickers is even tougher. (Washington Post)

Mar 20th, 2018

President Trump delivered a fiery speech yesterday calling for the execution of some drug traffickers. But to actually start doing that, he’d either need Congress to change the law or would have to reinterpret it on his own. Baltimore City Health Commissioner Leana Wen said she’s worried about Trump’s focus on punishment.

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Leana Wenopioids

Trump's death penalty plan for drug dealers a 'step backwards,' experts say (CNN)

Mar 20th, 2018

President Donald Trump on Monday rolled out his three-part plan to tackle the opioid epidemic -- including some programs long championed by public health advocates -- but it's the proposal to impose the death penalty on drug traffickers that has raised the most eyebrows.

Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner, said "The war on drugs has not worked," she said. "The last thing we need is to further criminalize the disease of addiction. We need for everyone to understand addiction is a disease, that treatment exists and recovery is possible."

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Leana Wenopioids

BCHD Launches New Site for Food Access for Low-Income Senior Residents in Baltimore City

Mar 19th, 2018

BALTIMORE (March 19, 2018) — The Baltimore City Health Department and Klein’s Family Markets announced, today, the newest Virtual Supermarket site at Ruscombe Gardens, 4800 Yellowwood Avenue. This is the city’s 14th location.

Congress Tackles The Opioid Epidemic. But How Much Will It Help? (Kaiser Health News)

Mar 19th, 2018

The nation’s opioid epidemic has been called today’s version of the 1980s AIDS crisis. 

Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician by training and the health commissioner for hard-hit Baltimore, said Capitol Hill has to help communities at risk of becoming overwhelmed. “We haven’t seen the peak of the epidemic. We are seeing the numbers climb year after year,” she said.

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Leana Wenopioids

City opens 14th virtual supermarket (Baltimore Sun)

Mar 19th, 2018

The city has opened its 14th virtual supermarket at Ruscombe Gardens, a low-income housing complex in Northwest Baltimore. “With the support of our partners and generous organizations, we can invest in solutions to the critical issue of food access and work together to level the playing field so that our older adults can choose healthy options to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. 

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Leana Wen

Baltimore’s Virtual Supermarket program expands to 14th location (Baltimore Fishbowl)

Mar 19th, 2018

On Monday morning, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Leana Wen passed out groceries to mark the opening of the 14th location of Virtual Supermarket at the Ruscombe Gardens, a low-income senior housing facility in the Cylburn neighborhood of northwest Baltimore.

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Leana Wen

Trump calls for death penalty for drug traffickers (Modern Healthcare)

Mar 19th, 2018

President Donald Trump on Monday said he believes the impact of the opioid abuse epidemic can be curbed by cutting opioid prescriptions by a third over the next three years. He also called for the death penalty for large-scale drug traffickers.

"The War on Drugs approach has not worked and has disproportionately incarcerated minorities and the poor," Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore city health commissioner, said in a written statement.

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Leana Wenopioids

Baltimore’s Virtual Supermarket program expands to 14th location (Technically Baltimore)

Mar 19th, 2018

On Monday morning, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Leana Wen passed out groceries to mark the opening of the 14th location of Virtual Supermarket at the Ruscombe Gardens, a low-income senior housing facility in the Cylburn neighborhood of northwest Baltimore.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wen

City health chief Wen calls much of Trump's opioid plan 'deeply troubling' (Baltimore Business Journal)

Mar 19th, 2018

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen commended President Trump for devoting more attention to the country's opioid epidemic, but called much of his new plan "deeply troubling.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioids

Delivering better nutrition: Baltimore opens virtual supermarket (WMAR)

Mar 19th, 2018

"I can talk to them about the importance of eating healthy fruit and vegetables, but then they might tell me that they might have to walk several blocks or take many buses and then walk blocks in order to access healthy fruits and vegetables," said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen.

Watch the entire video.

Leana Wen

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