Baltimore City Health Department

Narcan saved me from an opioid overdose. President Trump should make this drug cheaper. (USA Today)

May 11th, 2018

In his op-ed, Communities United Activist Perry Hopkins tells his story of being revived by Narcan, and explains the need for naloxone to be cheaper, and what the federal government can do about it.

opioidsnaloxone

After the Fall

May 10th, 2018

Baltimore is betting on data mapping to curb the leading cause of fatal injuries among older adults.

The mere act of falling down leads to tens of thousands of deaths among adults 65 and over every year in the U.S., and even more hospitalizations. In Baltimore, where there are many older homes and row houses with steep staircases, falls leading to an emergency room visit occur more frequently than in the rest of Maryland on average, and the city's recently launched fall-reduction strategy aims to utilize hospital data to quickly identify neighborhoods – and even exact locations – where falls are most frequent.

More judges order administration to restore pregnancy prevention funds (Salon)

May 10th, 2018

Two more federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to restore funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs that were abruptly eliminated.

U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake ruled Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ decision was “arbitrary and capricious” when it axed $5 million in funding for the city of Baltimore and the Baltimore nonprofit Healthy Teen Network.

Baltimore SHARP Program Is One Solution To Opioid Epidemic (WJZ)

May 9th, 2018

As quickly as the opioid epidemic claims lives in Baltimore, treatment programs are fighting back. That was the topic of WJZ’s Town Hall Tuesday: Searching for Solutions to the Opioid Epidemic.

“Here in Baltimore City, we focus first and foremost on saving lives. If someone is dying right now, we have to save their life in order for there to be a better tomorrow,” Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen said.

From Football to Rocket Science: Meet the Young People Changing the World in 2018 (Modern Diplomacy)

May 9th, 2018

One hundred of the world’s most promising artists, business leaders, public servants, social entrepreneurs and technologists under the age of 40 have been invited to join the World Economic Forum’s community of Young Global Leaders. The aim is to enable them to shape an inclusive and sustainable future for the world.

Leana Wen is the emergency physician taking on Baltimore’s health crises as the city’s Commissioner of Health. As the head of one of America’s most experimental health departments, she tackles everything from the city’s crippling drug abuse problem to high infant mortality.

AIDS Walk & Run Baltimore raises $80,000 for Chase Brexton’s HIV/AIDS services (Metro Weekly)

May 8th, 2018

The 2018 AIDS Walk & Run Baltimore raised more than $80,000 to support Chase Brexton Health Care’s HIV/AIDS prevention, outreach, and testing services.

Chase Brexton Health Care President and CEO Patrick Mutch and Baltimore City Health Department Commissioner Jennifer Martin gave brief remarks at the event, which was emceed by Chardelle Moore of FOX 5 Baltimore.

Baltimore Standing Together: Opioid Epidemic (WJZ)

May 8th, 2018

Dr. Leana Wen served on a panel of experts for WJZ's town hall: "Baltimore Standing Together: Opioid Epedemic.

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 here.

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"