Recent News

Note from the Commissioner: Protecting our Community’s Health

This week, I celebrated the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebration as the keynote speaker for the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. By invitation of Special Agent in Charge Gordon Johnson, I applauded the efforts of the FBI to embrace diversity and inclusion in their work. I discussed the shared core values driving the work of those of us on the frontlines of public health and public safety: Compassion, fairness, and respect for the dignity of all those we protect. And I had the opportunity conduct a naloxone training for agents and analysts and discuss how addiction is a disease for which we must all approach with urgency.

All sectors must be engaged to protect our community’s health and well-being. I was glad to provide the opening keynote for the United Way of Central Maryland’s Emerging Leaders United Young Professionals Conference. These young professionals are coming from backgrounds as diverse as finance, law, architecture, and accounting, but each of them are engaged in social justice and community service. Researchers and academics can be just as engaged. Last Thursday, I presented to doctors, nurses, and public health researchers as part of the Women’s Health, Sex, and Gender Research Symposium at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. There, I discussed the importance of academic researchers building relationships with the local communities in which they work. Everyone can make a difference in the communities we live and serve.

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Bmore Healthy Newsletter: May 18, 2018

Click here to read the 5/18/18 newsletter. Subscribe to the Bmore Healthy newsletter.

In this issue:

  • Note from the Commissioner
  • WYPR 88.1FM – Dr. Wen Participates in Midday’s “Healthwatch” Segment
  • Dr. Wen Speaks at United Way of Central Maryland’s Emerging Young Leaders United (ELU) Young Professionals Conference
  • and more

Code Red Season Begins In Baltimore (Patch)

Code Red Extreme Heat is a multi-agency effort to address the impact of extreme heat on residents of Baltimore City. Throughout the summer, City agencies provide public education to residents about the effects of sustained heat on health and perform community outreach regarding energy assistance programs for senior residents and other susceptible groups through Community Action Partnership Centers.

"Heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and many thousands of illnesses nationwide each year," said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. "Heat is a silent killer, and is particularly dangerous to those who are young and elderly, and with chronic medical conditions. Residents must take all precautions to ensure their own safety as well as the safety of family and neighbors."

Read the entire story.

Leana Wen

Profiteering from the opioid crisis (USA Today)

Almost like magic, the drug naloxone can bring victims of opioid overdoses back from the brink of death. With more than 115 people dying each day from opioid overdoses across the country, the drug could save thousands of lives each year.

Except for one problem.

The prices of naloxone set by drug makers have skyrocketed, putting it beyond the reach of some police, first responders, community groups, and families and friends of overdose victims.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioidsnaloxone

Extreme Heat Season Is On The Horizon (WJZ)

As summer approaches it’s important to be aware of extreme heat that can overwhelm some of Baltimore’s more sensitive residents.

The Baltimore City Health Department announced Tuesday that Code Red season is underway for the summer and warned of dangers that come with being exposed to too much heat. Extreme heat can lead to illnesses like cardiovascular disease, stroke, and respiratory disease.

Watch the video.

Leana Wen

Baltimore City Health Department Announces Beginning of 2018 Code Red Extreme Heat Season

BALTIMORE, MD (May 15, 2018)—The Baltimore City Health Department today announced the start of Baltimore City’s Code Red Extreme Heat season.

Extreme heat season begin in Baltimore City (WEAA)

The Baltimore City Health Department Tuesday announced the start of Baltimore City’s Code Red Extreme Heat season. Code Red Extreme Heat is a multi-agency effort to address the impact of extreme heat on residents of Baltimore City. 

Throughout the summer, City agencies provide public education to residents about the effects of sustained heat on health and perform community outreach regarding energy assistance programs for senior residents and other susceptible groups through Community Action Partnership Centers.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wen

Fentanyl test strips detect deadly synthetic opioid in drug supply (Washington Times)

Public health advocates and officials are at odds over programs that allow drug users to bring in their illicit drugs to test them for a deadly synthetic opioid.

Leana Wenopioids

Healthwatch with Dr. Leana Wen: Heart Disease, Opioids, Synthetic Weed Warnings (WYPR)

In this edition of Dr. Wen's regular Healthwatch segment on WYPR's Midday with Tom Hall, she gives tips for heart health, provides and update on the City's teen pregnancy prevention lawsuit against the Trump administration, and warns against the danger of synthetic cannabis. 

Listen here.

Leana Wenopioids

Note From The Commissioner: Treating Addiction in our Hospitals

Last week, Mayor Catherine E. Pugh and I convened all 11 hospitals in Baltimore to announce our partnership to combat the opioid epidemic. Addiction is a disease. Treatment for it cannot be siloed and stigmatized.

Baltimore City hospitals have done exceptional work already. Nearly all of our City’s ERs offer medication-assisted treatment on demand and peer recovery specialists, something true of no other major city in America. Through my standing order for naloxone, more than 36,000 residents have been trained to use the antidote medication, and these residents have saved more than 1,900 lives. Law enforcement and health officials teamed up to start a program that allows residents arrested for low-level drug offenses the opportunity to choose treatment and case management instead of prosecution. In March, we announced the opening of our Stabilization Center, a first-of-its-kind 24/7 urgent care facility dedicated to issues of addiction and mental health.

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