BALTIMORE, MD (April 15, 2016) – Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today joined Congressional leaders and experts for a briefing hosted by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), to educate members and staff about efforts being implemented in Baltimore to combat the opioid abuse epidemic and urging Congress to introduce policies that will expand access to naloxone, a medication that completely reverses the effect of an opioid overdose.

“In Baltimore, we believe that naloxone should be part of everyone’s medicine cabinet and everyone’s First Aid kit, because if we don’t save live today, there is no chance for a better tomorrow,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. “I am proud to stand before our federal partners to share the lessons we have learned in Baltimore and to call on leaders in Congress to support policies that will enhance community-based efforts to end this public health emergency.”

Dr. Wen was joined Friday by leading experts from across the country, including:

• Rep. Robert J. Dold (R-IL);
• Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA);
• Laura Hanen, MPP, Chief of Government Affairs, National Association of County and City Health Officials;
• Fred Wells Brason II, President/CEO, Project Lazarus, Wilkes County, NC; and
• Susan McKnight, MPH, CAADC, MAATP, Substance Abuse Program Coordinator, Lake County Health Department, IL

Following her appointment in January 2015, Dr. Wen has declared opioid overdose a public health emergency, and is currently leading one of the most aggressive opioid overdose prevention campaigns in the country, including:

• Promoting a citywide effort to expand the use of naloxone, training more than 8,000 residents in 2015, including in public markets, in drug court, and with police officers.
• Issuing Maryland's first “Standing Order,” enabling Dr. Wen to prescribe naloxone for all of Baltimore City’s 620,000 residents; and
• Introducing a first of its kind online naloxone training to further reduce barriers to this lifesaving medication.

Last month, Dr. Wen joined President Obama for a discussion at the National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit  where she shared Baltimore City’s innovative platform to prevent overdose, expand access to treatment, and improve education to patients and providers. She has also recently testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Senate HELP Committee to educate federal lawmakers on what is needed at the local level to combat this public health emergency.

“Baltimore has been on the frontlines of the heroin and opioid epidemic and we continue to make progress with bold ideas and innovative strategies,” added Dr. Wen. “By putting this lifesaving medication in the hands of more Americans, we can prevent overdose deaths in communities across our city and country.”

About 25,000 Americans die annually from opioid overdose. Between 2002 and 2013, the rate of those dying from opioid-related overdoses has nearly quadrupled.

There were 303 total drug and alcohol overdose deaths in Baltimore City in 2014, compared with 246 in 2013, a 23 percent increase.