BALTIMORE, Md. (December 29, 2016)— Today, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen issued the following statement in response to new data showing an increase in fatal overdoses statewide. Preliminary data show that there were 481 fatal overdoses in Baltimore City from January through September 2016, compared to 286 during the same time period last year. The number of people who died from overdoses relating to fentanyl has increased from 75 to 267—an 18-fold increase since 2013.

BALTIMORE, Md. (December 20, 2016)—The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) today heard testimony from community members and national policy leaders during an open meeting of the Work Group on Drug Treatment Access and Neighborhood Relations. The session included panel discussions with hospital and university leaders as well as national and local policy experts, including Mayor Catherine E. Pugh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Kana Enomoto, and Deputy Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Dr. Wilson Compton.

BALTIMORE, Md. (December 14, 2016)—With temperatures predicted to fall into single-digits with wind chill, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today issued a Code Blue declaration for Baltimore City overnight Wednesday until noon Friday. This is the first Code Blue alert for Baltimore this season.

BALTIMORE, MD (December 1, 2016) – In recognition of World AIDS Day 2016, representatives across Baltimore City honored those lost to AIDS and recommitted to eliminating the disease in Baltimore City. World AIDS Day is a global annual event held on December 1st to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for those living with HIV, and commemorate those who have passed.