Recent News

Deaths from drug, alcohol overdoses skyrocket in Maryland (Baltimore Sun)

Jun 9th, 2017

The number of people who died in Maryland from drug and alcohol related overdoses surged 66 percent in 2016, compared with 2015, exposing the magnitude of the growing opioid epidemic and the ineffectiveness of the increased resources aimed a stemming deaths. 

The 2,089 deaths last year represent an all-time high, triple the tally from 2010, according to the data released Thursday by the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Last year's jump is the state's largest recorded annual increase.

"The numbers are terrible and they are extremely disappointing," said Dr. Leana Wen, health commissioner for Baltimore City, which accounted for about a third of all overdose deaths in the state.

The city saw 694 overdose deaths last year, more than twice the 318 homicides recorded by police.

The greatest number of deaths, both in the city and statewide, were attributed to the illegal opioids heroin and fentanyl, a cheap and powerful drug pouring in from overseas that is typically mixed into heroin without the user's knowledge.

Read the entire story.

Note from the Commissioner: Public health saves lives every day

Jun 9th, 2017

Baltimore never takes a backseat to public health. Public health saves lives every day, but because there is no face of prevention, it is often difficult to make the case for our core services that protect and promote health for our residents.

This past week, the dedicated team at BCHD presented our programs and services to the Baltimore City Council. I always say that I have the best job in the world, and I was very proud to represent the dedicated women and men of BCHD who are on the frontlines every day to work on maternal and child health, senior services, trauma and mental healthcare, violence prevention, HIV/AIDS and STD services, environmental health, and much more.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Expresses Grave Concern about Steep Rise in Overdose

Jun 8th, 2017

BALTIMORE, MD (June 8, 2017)—Today, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen issued the following statement in response to the release of overdose death data, which shows that there were 694 fatal overdoses in Baltimore City in 2016.

Baltimore City Health Department Hosts Storytelling Events to Address Sexual Health Stigma

Jun 8th, 2017

BALTIMORE, MD (June 1, 2017) — Today, the Baltimore City Health Department will kick off two days of art, images and storytelling celebrating Baltimore’s LGBTQ communities of color to address social stigma and inspire empathy and action. The semi-annual Project Presence photo exhibit and Baltimore in Conversation storytelling event will take place on back-to-back evenings, with Project Presence taking place on Thursday, June 8, and Baltimore in Conversation taking place on Friday, June 9 at BBOX in the Gateway Building at MICA, located at 1601 West Mt. Royal Avenue. The events are free and open to the public.

First Edition June 2nd: Weekly Review with Kamau High, Balt. City New Policy on Naloxone (WEAA)

Jun 6th, 2017

First Edition Host Sean Yoes, reviews some of the top news stories of the week directly from the pages of the AFRO Newspaper, with managing editor Kamau High.

Plus, Yoes speaks Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner about the city’s new policy on naloxone, the overdose recovery medication, in wake of the record number of opioid overdoses in Baltimore.

Listen to the story. 

Baltimore allows over-the-county purchase of naloxone (WBAL)

Jun 5th, 2017

Baltimore health officials are working to fight the rising number of drug overdoses in the city by making the drug naloxone available for over-the-counter purchases.

City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen said that in this time of public health emergency everyone must be able to carry naloxone and save lives. Naloxone is used to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose.

“This is at epidemic rates at this point,” Steve Dixon, president of the Penn North Recovery Center said. “In the last month alone, I personally knew at least 16 people who passed away."

Preliminary data from the Baltimore City Health Department shows there were 481 fatal overdoses between January and September 2016.

Health officials said naloxone has saved more than 800 lives since 2015.

Read the entire story. 

Baltimore officials to make opioid antidote easily available (Video) (WMAR)

Jun 5th, 2017

Watch the video.

Narcan, naloxone: Baltimore makes opioid overdose-reversing drug available over the counter (Washington Times)

Jun 5th, 2017

Citing the deadly opioid crisis, Baltimore officials made it easier on Thursday to acquire an overdose-reversing drug over the counter, saying the antidote should be as prevalent as possible to prevent more deaths.

City Health Commissioner Leana Wen waived training requirements for acquiring and using naloxone, a fast-acting medication that’s become a vital and ubiquitous tool in fighting the nation’s heroin and prescription painkiller crisis.

Dr. Wen said the training only took a few minutes — naloxone can be administered as a nasal spray or injected into the muscle, like an EpiPen. But the associated paperwork was cumbersome, so she implemented a recent state law allowing her to scrap the training altogether.

“Any resident can go into any of our pharmacies in Baltimore City and immediately get the medication for saving someone’s life,” she said.

Read the entire story.

Opioid Antidote Available Over The Counter In Baltimore (WBAL Radio)

Jun 5th, 2017

Baltimore City residents can now get the medicine used to reverse a opioid overdose over the counter.

City Health Commissioner Leana Wen signed an order Thursday that allows Narcan or Naxolone to be made available without a prescription. Her order is part of the state's new Hope Act that eliminates the need for training before a prescription for Narcan is given out.

Dr. Wen told WBAL News Radio 1090 that 800 lives have been saved in the past two years as a result of someone, other than a paramedic, given another person Naxolone.

Read the entire story.

Baltimore Officials Make Opioid Antidote Easily Available (WJZ)

Jun 5th, 2017

Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen signed a new standing order making an antidote that reverses the effects of opioids available over the counter.

Medicaid patients can get the medication for $1, those who can’t afford it, can get it for free. Dr. Wen said she would eventually like to see Narcan added to first aid kits.

Drug overdoses are becoming what Wen calls a “public health emergency.”

The new law ensures that everyone in Baltimore City has access to a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.

Powerful synthetic drugs are claiming the lives of thousands of Marylanders every year.

Read the entire story.

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