BALTIMORE, MD (December 19, 2015)– Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen issued the following statement commending a new law in effect today that creates a criminal charge for the possession of animal fighting paraphernalia in Baltimore City:

BALTIMORE, MD (December 14, 2015)– Today, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen issued the following statement applauding the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for issuing a statewide standing order allowing pharmacists to dispense naloxone, also called Narcan, a medication that completely reverses the effect of an opioid overdose, without a prescription under the State’s Overdose Response Program:

The many calls for gun control that have followed from this year’s mass shootings ignore the fact that there are already programs proven to reduce gun violence in the US.

All shootings are preventable, despite common belief. Shootings frequently occur in or near the same locations, involve individuals with previous criminal histories, and are more likely to occur in evening and late hours. Often someone, a friend, acquaintance, or even family member, knows an event may be about to occur. This is frequently true in the case of mass and school shootings, as studied by the Secret Service. Exposure to violence and trauma also increases the likelihood of future violence, mental health and substance use conditions.