Recent News

President Trump’s 'state of emergency' — a health commissioner's perspective (The Hill)

On Thursday, President Trump announced that he was declaring the opioid epidemic to be a public health emergency, rather than a national state of emergency. For access to the complete story click here.

Leana Wen

Baltimore City Health Department Celebrates Eight Years of Healthy Babies

BALTIMORE, MD (October 25, 2017)– Health officials and families from across Baltimore City will join in an evening of celebrating eight years of success in reducing infant mortality rates.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Responds to the President’s Opioid Epidemic Designation as a Public Health Emergency

Baltimore, MD Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today issued the following statement in response to the President’s designation of a state of emergency for the opioid epidemic...

Leana Wen

Note From The Commissioner: Celebrating B'more for Healthy Babies

This week was my first full week back. Nine weeks ago, my husband and I welcomed our son, Eli, into the world. These weeks have been the happiest of my life, but they have also been among the most challenging. I wrote about my experience being a new mother, and how raising a newborn gave me even more passion for our work to provide resources and support, and to serve the most vulnerable.

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Counting The Heavy Cost Of Care In The Age Of Opioids (NPR)

The declaration of an opioid emergency by President Trump has put the focus on the need for treatment. And now some communities are asking who will pay. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports on the rising costs of treating the epidemic.

Listen to the entire segment.

Leana Wenopioids

Wen to Nursing Students: Opioid Crisis ‘Horrendous’ (UMB News)

Leana S. Wen, MD, MSc, FAAEM, was en route to speak at an endowed lecture at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) Oct.

Leana Wenopioids

Baltimore residents, dying from opioid overdoses, hope to get promised help from the White House (Think Progress)

Baltimore’s short on a lifesaving drug. Declaring the opioid crisis a national emergency can help.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioidsnaloxone

Panel Touts Success Integrating Primary Care, Population Health (AAFP)

By identifying specific public health problems and offering care to people the moment they need it, population health initiatives can work with primary care to improve health outcomes before patients go to their physician's office or the ER.

Evan Behrle, a special adviser for opioid policy with the Baltimore City Health Department, described a program that seeks to reduce the infant mortality rate by 40 percent within eight years.

Read the entire story.

B'more for Healthy BabiesVision for Baltimore

Five questions for President Trump’s big announcement on opioids (The Hill)

This week, President Trump announced that he plans to formally declare a statement of emergency on the opioid epidemic. It’s about time. Experts, including the President’s own Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, have repeatedly called for the President to put the full weight of the federal government to stem the tide of this disease that is claiming hundreds of lives per day.

Read Dr. Wen's entire op-ed.

Leana Wenopioids

Dr. Wen Discusses BCHD Efforts to Reduce Health Disparities on WBAL-TV

Dr. Leana Wen appeared on WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore on Sunday, October 15 to discuss how BCHD is working to decrease health disparities in Baltimore.

For access to the complete interview, click here

Leana Wen

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