Recent News

Baltimore City Health Department Offers Comment to CDC’s Proposed 2016 Guideline for Prescribing Opioids

Jan 13th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (January 13, 2016)– Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) officials issued a letter this week providing comment to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Proposed 2016 Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. This is the latest effort from BCHD to combat and ultimately end opioid use disorders abuse and overdose.

“In Baltimore City, we have declared opioid abuse a public health emergency. Though there is much that can be done on the city and state levels, we know that we cannot end the nation’s opioid epidemic without the support of and guidance from our federal partners,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. “We commend the CDC’s efforts to encourage best practices for prescribing, and applaud their continued efforts to bring greater national attention to this public health crisis.”

Health Commissioner Wen Declares Code Blue Alert for Tuesday Night

Jan 12th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (January 12, 2016)– With overnight temperatures predicted to fall into the teens with wind chill, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today issued a Code Blue declaration for Baltimore City overnight. 

“I am issuing a Code Blue Declaration tonight in Baltimore and encourage residents to stay in indoors, especially those most vulnerable to cold,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. “Extreme cold temperatures can permanently injure, or even kill. Hypothermia, or low body temperature, can be just as dangerous as extreme heat, so it is important to stay indoors in heated areas. Be sure to check on your elderly neighbors to ensure that they have heat and power tonight.”

Baltimore officials want warning signs about sugary drinks

Jan 12th, 2016

In an effort to address health concerns among children, Baltimore officials introduced legislation that would require businesses to post warning signs of sugary drinks.

Baltimore City Health Department, Councilman Mosby Announce Efforts to Educate Residents on the Health Dangers of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

Jan 11th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (January 11, 2015)– In an effort to reduce childhood obesity, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today joined Councilman Nick Mosby to announce a City Council bill that would require warning labels for sugar-sweetened beverages in advertisements, restaurant menus, and in any city store that sells those products. 

Soda drinkers pile on fat in all the wrong places, study finds

Jan 11th, 2016

People who drink sugary sodas gain fat in the worst possible places — wrapped around their internal organs, researchers reported Monday.

Baltimore City Council proposes bill to display warning labels on sugary drinks

Jan 11th, 2016

The Baltimore City Health Department and Council Nick Mosby announced a bill that would require warning labels for sugar-sweetened beverages in advertisements, restaurant menus, and in city stores

US Congress lifts funding ban for needle exchange programs

Jan 8th, 2016

The U.S. Congress has quitely lifted the federal funding ban on needle exchange programs after more than a quarter century the programs went into effect.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Commends Lift on Federal Funding Ban for Needle Exchange Programs

Jan 7th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (January 7, 2016)– Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen issued the following statement commending Congress’s decision to effectively lift the federal funding ban for needle exchange programs under a provision in the recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act:

Funding ban on needle exchanges effectively lifted

Jan 7th, 2016

Congress effectively lifted the nation’s long-standing ban on federal funding for needle exchange programs, which allow intravenous drug addicts to trade dirty syringes for clean ones in the hope o

Health Commissioner Wen Declares First Code Blue Alert of the Winter Season

Jan 4th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (January 4, 2016)– With overnight temperatures predicted to fall into the teens with a single-digit wind chill, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr.

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