Recent News

B'more for Healthy Babies Celebrates Seven Years of Success

Oct 13th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (October 13, 2016)– Health officials, city representatives, and families from across Baltimore City joined together today to celebrate seven years of success in reducing infant mortality rates at an event honoring the B'more for Healthy Babies (BHB) initiative.

ChangeMakers: Baltimore Receives $5 Million Dollar 'Trauma' Grant (NBC)

Oct 12th, 2016

Over the years, Tyesha Harrell has heard the staccato pop of gunshots, seen the blood-stained sidewalks, and too often heard the wails of grief-stricken mothers whose sons and daughters have succumbed to violence.

"We lost six people yesterday," said the resident of Gilmor Homes, a public housing project in West Baltimore where Freddie Gray was arrested in April 2015, before later dying in police custody.

Yet amid the pain, Harrell, an activist with the citizen's advocacy group, Communities United, is determined to help change conditions for the better. And recently, she heard some good news.

Baltimore, joined by seven other municipalities nationwide, will receive nearly $10 million dollars from the Obama Administration to promote community healing.

"I know I'm not Wonder Woman, but it makes me feel like Wonder Woman," said Harrell.

Reducing the dying by embracing needle exchange (Cincinati Enquirer)

Oct 12th, 2016

BALTIMORE - They walk up to a van that's marked with the seal of Baltimore Health Department, and they're greeted warmly.

In this case, "they" are injection drug users who get clean needles and other supplies to help ensure they won't get infected with HIV or hepatitis C. It's nothing new.

Needle exchange is a priority in Baltimore, and national Harm Reduction Coalition experts say the program there is among models for others across the nation.

33-year-old doctor leads Baltimore's anti-heroin war (Cincinati Enquirer)

Oct 12th, 2016

The second in a four-part series.

BALTIMORE - Dr. Leana Wen is famous among addiction experts across the nation for taking the helm against heroin.

"Nobody wants to be an addict," she says flatly.

The Baltimore health commissioner has an estimated 19,000 residents addicted to heroin in her city of 620,000. This city knows its numbers, figured by an epidemiologist, so that it can better understand and react to the heroin threat.

She's known nationally for her efforts to fight the heroin crisis in her city. "You need a commitment from public health leadership to prioritize this," said Daniel Raymond, policy director for the national Harm Reduction Coalition in New York City.

Wen, 33, who was appointed Baltimore health commissioner in January 2015, says that anyone who sees addiction as a moral failing is wrong. "Science is clear that addiction is a brain disease," she said.

Five things Baltimore can teach us about fighting heroin (Cincinati Enquirer)

Oct 12th, 2016

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Dr. Wen Cincinati Enquirer Video "Five things Baltimore can teach us about fighting heroin"

Lessons from Baltimore: The first in a four-part series.

BALTIMORE - This city is under an official public health emergency, and overdoses and drug use are the reasons. An epidemiologist has calculated 19,000 or 3 percent of its residents are addicted to heroin – important because here, officials just guess. Officials fight the epidemic with a multi-pronged, science-based approach that has specialists across the nation watching – and hoping.

Baltimore City Health Department Hosts Celebration Recognizing Community Members Dedicated to Implementing Community-Based Trauma Services in West Baltimore

Oct 11th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (October 11, 2016)– Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen, U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings, and community leaders today hosted a celebration for partners and residents involved with the ReCAST West Baltimore project.

 

Dr. Wen Attends First Maryland Black Caucus Public Hearing in Annapolis

Oct 7th, 2016

On Thursday, Dr. Wen was invited to Annapolis by Delegate Glenn to speak on behalf of the Baltimore City Health Department at the Black Caucus’ first-ever public hearing. While there, she spoke about some of the major issues faced by the black community in Baltimore City. One of the most important issues for legislation in the upcoming session will be related to the opioid epidemic, in particular heroin, because it has a disproportionate negative impact on our black communities. 

Opioid Overdose Prevention Trainings Take Place during “Day to Save”

Oct 7th, 2016

Earlier today, Behavioral Health System Baltimore and the Baltimore City Health Department convened 30 volunteers to conduct opioid overdose prevention outreach during the first-ever 'Day to Save.' Volunteers, BHSB staff, and BCHD staff met at Lexington Market which is considered an overdose hotspot, making it one of the highest risk areas in Baltimore.

Dr. Wen and Baltimore Corps Fellows Visit JHU for Naloxone Training

Oct 7th, 2016

On Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Wen joined former Baltimore City Health Commissioner Peter Beilenson’s class at Johns Hopkins University to discuss public health in Baltimore City. Dr. Wen captivated students while discussing the various roles and functions of BCHD, including restaurant inspections and animal control, as well as elaborated about the larger health issues facing the city: food and nutrition, opioid overdose, and HIV. During the conversation about opioid overdose and its prevention, Dr. Wen discussed one of the major problems in public health today, which is the severe lack of funding. She said that one of her greatest battles in this field is ensuring that these issues have a “seat at the table” and are constantly being made known to the public and legislators. She reminded the students that this is so crucial in the field because “your life is saved by public health every day, you just don’t know about it.”

Health Commissioner Dr. Wen Speaks at Open Society Institute’s Solutions Summit

Oct 7th, 2016

Last Saturday, Dr. Wen spoke at the Open Society Institute’s Solutions Summit to address the public health issues faced by Baltimore City in the realm of behavioral health. The Solutions Summit is the fourth step in OSI’s process to approach the office of the Mayor with significant actionable steps to address the major issues. OSI began the process in early 2016 to convene a community of voices based behavioral health providers, consumers, and advocates to surface critical issues they face in their work in the field of behavioral health in Baltimore. OSI specifically focuses on drug addiction treatment, criminal and juvenile justice, and education while focusing on the nexus between race and poverty.

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