Recent News

Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services Announce $1.5 Million in Funding to Increase Support for Male Violence Survivors and Support Safe Streets Expansion

Oct 28th, 2015

The Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced $1.5 million in new federal grants focused on violence prevention efforts in Baltimore.

Mayor Rawlings-Blake, Health Commissioner Dr. Wen Announce Synthetic Drug Bill

Oct 26th, 2015

BALTIMORE, MD (October 26, 2015)– Mayor Rawlings-Blake and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today announced new legislation that will impose stiff penalties for individuals selling synthetic drugs, and a new campaign that is targeting retailers from selling these dangerous substances.

Synthetic drugs have seen increased popularity nationwide, including in Washington D.C. Recently, Baltimore City health officials are seeing an increase in visits to emergency departments due to overdoses on synthetic drugs.

Baltimore City Kicks-off 2015 National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

Oct 26th, 2015

BALTIMORE, MD (October 26, 2015)– Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen joined Maryland Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford, Faye Royale-Larkins, CEO of Total Health Care, Ruth Ann Norton, President and CEO, Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI), local, state leaders, and members of the community to kick-off National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW), a weeklong event designed to raise awareness about the threat that lead poisoning poses to our children and our communities.

This year's NLPPW theme, "Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future," underscores the importance of testing your home, testing your child, and learning how to prevent lead poisoning’s serious health effects.

Baltimore is Latest City to Announce Crackdown on Synthetic Drugs

Oct 26th, 2015

Jurisdictions all over the U.S.

City to get healthier vending options

Oct 23rd, 2015

Baltimore is joining dozens of cities offering healthier vending options in public buildings.

Healthy Snacking On The Way For Baltimore City Workers

Oct 23rd, 2015

Healthy snacking is on the way for all city workers. Baltimore rolled out a new plan to get healthy vending machines in its buildings.

Baltimore health commissioner continues outreach to address heroin crisis

Oct 22nd, 2015

The fight against heroin in Baltimore City seems to be at a critical point.

Fragile, Perfect, Fussy, Beautiful Little Humans: A Summer of New Cribs for Newborns

Oct 22nd, 2015

When the deputy director of Maternal and Child Health stopped by my desk and asked if I had any interest in helping deliver cribs to new mothers, I thought I’d get the chance to better understand one of the city health department’s most vibrant programs, B’More for Healthy Babies. I didn’t realize, at the time, that I would also get the chance to better understand some of the city’s most vibrant people: its new mothers and their babies.

ABCs of Safe Sleep

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen Applauds President Obama’s Renewed Efforts Regarding Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Use

Oct 21st, 2015

BALTIMORE, MD (October 21, 2015)– Today, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen released the following statement in response to President Obama’s Memorandum on Addressing Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Use:

“I am thrilled to see the Obama Administration taking such strong steps toward helping our country’s most vulnerable individuals. Addiction is a disease, and the Presidential Memorandum goes a long way in addressing barriers to treatment and targets prevention and outreach efforts while moving away from criminalization.

Commissioner Wen Testifies before State Committee on Baltimore City Heroin Taskforce’s Recommendations

Oct 20th, 2015

ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 20, 2015)– Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen testified Tuesday before the Maryland State Joint Committee on Behavioral Health and Opioid Use Disorders to update the General Assembly on the recommendations provided by the Baltimore Mayor’s Heroin Treatment & Prevention Task Force Report and to urge the General assembly to provide support for the report’s recommendations.

“As an ER doctor, I have seen the devastation of heroin addiction firsthand, and as the city’s doctor, I have seen how heroin ties into the very fabric of Baltimore,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. “It is impossible to separate heroin use from the rampant health disparities that divide our city. Baltimore has been fighting the heroin epidemic for years, and we look forward to sharing the lessons we learned with our State partners and further collaborate to heal our communities.”

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