Baltimore's success a model for region on heroin (Cincinati Enquirer)

The surest way to achieve success is to model those who are already successful. That's why lawmakers and public health officials in Ohio and Kentucky should be paying close attention to how Baltimore is dealing with the problem of heroin and other illicit drugs.

In the Enquirer's series, "Lessons from Baltimore," reporter Terry DeMio details how that city, which has a heavily addicted population, is battling the opioid epidemic with a great degree of success. This editorial board has applauded the ongoing efforts and collaborations among regional health agencies to combat this deadly scourge, but we've also been clear that greater investment needs to be made in treatment and prevention. Admittedly, there are political and economic differences that make a direct comparison between Baltimore and Greater Cincinnati difficult, but nonetheless there are takeaways our region could learn from.

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When I’ve asked experts about these approaches, it’s not that any of them are bad. It’s that they fall short. For instance, Leana Wen, the former health commissioner of Baltimore (and soon-to-be president of Planned Parenthood), said that the Support for Patients and Communities Act “is simply tinkering around the edges.”

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