Recent News

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Issues Statement in Response to Increase in Fentanyl Deaths in Baltimore City

Sep 23rd, 2016

BALTIMORE, Md. (September 23, 2016) – Today, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen issued the following statement in response to new data released by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene showing an increase in fatal overdoses statewide. Preliminary data show that there were 290 fatal overdoses in Baltimore City during the first half of 2016, compared to 188 during the same time period last year.

Baltimore City Health Department Recognized As HealthyCommunity50 Member In Healthiest Cities And Counties Challenge

Sep 21st, 2016

Baltimore, MD (September 21, 2016) —Today, Baltimore City was selected as one of 50 members of the HealthyCommunity50 in the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge. By participating in the Challenge, Baltimore City will receive a $10,000 community seed award and is in the running to receive a prize that will further development of local programming.

Chemical Odor Reported at Baltimore City Health Department Druid Health Clinic

Sep 20th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (September 20, 2016) – This afternoon, Baltimore City Health Department's Druid Health Clinic reported a chemical-based odor emanating from an unknown substance in the second floor lab. 

Baltimore City Awarded $5 Million SAMHSA Grant to Implement Community-based Trauma Informed Care in West Baltimore

Sep 15th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (September 15, 2016)– The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) today announced that the agency has been awarded a five-year, $5 million grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services for the Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma (ReCAST) program. The goal of ReCAST is to empower local community collaboration to assist high-risk youth and families in communities that have recently faced civil unrest through evidence-based violence prevention, community youth engagement, and trauma-informed behavioral health services.

HIV Planning Group seeks to spark important conversations about sexual health among seniors

Sep 13th, 2016

Senior citizens, often overlooked in discussions of sexual health, are receiving the attention they deserve in a new initiative focused on HIV and aging. 

Baltimore City Health Department, Maryland Department of Agriculture to Conduct Mosquito Control Activities

Sep 10th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (September 10, 2016) – In keeping with Baltimore City’s response plan, the Baltimore City Health Department and Maryland Department of Agriculture will expand mosquito control services in Baltimore City Sunday, due to a public health concern over the potential for mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus and Zika virus. There are currently 11 travel-associated Zika cases in Baltimore City.

Narcan Prices Are Skyrocketing and Cities Are Begging for Help to Buy It (The Daily Beast)

Sep 8th, 2016

​PHILADEPHIA — If it were possible to put a dollar value on human life, few would argue that $37.50 is too high.

But that’s all it cost to purchase the drug that saved Michael C. Meeney’s life when he overdosed on heroin earlier this year on a crowded bus in suburban Philadelphia.

A Healthy Baltimore for 2020 (WJZ)

Sep 3rd, 2016

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Charm City is launching a strategic plan to improve the wellness and reduce violence in our community.

Tracey Leong outlines this new effort.

Baltimore health Commissioner: New FDA labeling requirement can save lives (The Hill)

Sep 2nd, 2016

By Leana S. Wen

If my patient were in a car accident and experiencing neck pain, I might have prescribed an opioid — such as Percocet or Vicodin — for the pain, and a benzodiazepine — such as Xanax or Valium — to help treat muscle spasms. I might have prescribed to someone who is on benzodiazepines for their anxiety disorder an opioid for pain relief; and vice versa.

Redefining public health (Baltimore Sun)

Sep 2nd, 2016

It's well known that the most important health indicators of communities are often closely related to their demographics. People living in wealthy communities generally tend to live longer, be more active and have fewer serious chronic diseases than people living in poor communities. 

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