Recent News

"Baltimore wants to use 311 to stop underage smoking" (Daily Record) August 21, 2015

Aug 21st, 2015

City officials want to crack down on tobacco sales to minors, and are asking for Baltimore residents to be on the lookout. Anyone who notices a business selling tobacco products to people under 18 can now call 311 to report it; the city’s health department will investigate each incident, officials announced Friday.

 

"They’ve overdosed, or seen other people die. Now they’re learning to save victims’ lives" (Washington Post) August 21, 2015

Aug 21st, 2015

The men filled the dark wooden benches of a drug court here Thursday morning, watching as Kevin Burns attached what looked like the end of a syringe and an attachment for nasal spray together in an attempt to revive his overdose victim. “His lips are a little bit blue,” said Burns, who works on drug overdose prevention for Baltimore through the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “If he doesn’t breathe, he will die. We have five to six minutes. That’s all we have.”

International Overdose Awareness Day

Aug 20th, 2015

On Monday, August 31, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the Baltimore City Health Department and community leaders will be observing International Overdose Awareness Day.

"Preventing Tobacco Sales To Underage Children Is Just A (311) Phone Call Away"

Aug 20th, 2015

Baltimore residents can now help health officials to work on the life-changing problem of tobacco use with a simple phone call.  Today, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen announced a new tool in the fight against sales of tobacco to underage youth. Individuals can now call 311 to report businesses that are selling tobacco to youth under age 18, and Health Department officials will investigate each complaint.  The Health Department has launched a public education campaign, with messaging inside buses and radio advertisements encouraging individuals to call 311.

Planning To Prevent Teen Pregnancies

Aug 20th, 2015

It’s Back to School time in Baltimore, and many students are returning to classrooms eager to learn. But, we know that unintended teen pregnancy is the number one reason that young women do not complete high school, and this leads to continued cycles of poverty, unemployment and poor health for both mother and young child. Baltimore City’s teen birth rate (43.3 per 1,000 teen girls) is 1.5 times higher than the national rate and twice as high as the state of Maryland. 

"Safe Streets program to expand to fifth site in Baltimore" (WMAR) August 18,2015

Aug 19th, 2015

Plans for a fifth Safe Streets site are moving forward thanks to grant money from the Abell Foundation. The program started off slowly and eventually expanded. There have been a few years now with four Safe Streets sites that include McElderry Park, Cherry Hill, Mondawmin and Park Heights.

"What you need to know about back to school immunizations" (WMAR) August 18,2015

Aug 18th, 2015

Back to school immunizations can literally be one of the most painful parts of the back to school process for children. Although they might involve some temporary discomfort, health officials say immunizations are key. Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner, stopped by ABC2 In Focus to talk about the importance of getting the required immunizations and staying up to date with them.

"baltimore Taking A Stand Against Dog Fighting" (WJZ) August 17, 2015

Aug 17th, 2015

Baltimore City Council is considering a move to toughen up on dog fighting. The proposal would make it a criminal offense to possess equipment that trains dogs for fights.

"Baltimore teaching drug offenders how to use heroin antidote" (WMAR) August 13, 2015

Aug 14th, 2015

The Baltimore City Health Department has ramped up its effort against the "War on Heroin" in Baltimore City. On Thursday, drug offenders in drug treatment court were trained how to used Naloxone. It's an over-the-counter drug that serves as an antidote to a heroin or opioid overdose. The city said it wants to get Naloxone into the hands of people who are the most at risk. The participants in drug treatment court are being closely supervised during their recovery and participation in drug treatment programs.

Baltimore City First In State To Provide in Court Naloxone Training For Drug Court Participants (FOX45)

Aug 14th, 2015

Within the walls of Baltimore City’s Circuit Court the city’s Health Commissioner conducted an in court training session for nearly 30 Baltimore City Drug Treatment Court participants, teaching them how to administer Naloxone.  It’s a medication that is used to reverse the effects of an overdose.    “I think this is a way we can save lives in Baltimore City and really make an impact on the ever increasing overdose deaths,” said Ellen Heller, Circuit Court Judge. The in court training is a first for the state.  Its participants were chosen because they are at risk of an overdose and/or are in contact with people who are at risk. “If somebody is overdosing on heroin or fentanyl or oxycodone or other opiates they will stop breathing and within a matter of minutes they will die,” said Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner.

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