Earlier today, Behavioral Health System Baltimore and the Baltimore City Health Department convened 30 volunteers to conduct opioid overdose prevention outreach during the first-ever 'Day to Save.' Volunteers, BHSB staff, and BCHD staff met at Lexington Market which is considered an overdose hotspot, making it one of the highest risk areas in Baltimore.

Last Saturday, Dr. Wen spoke at the Open Society Institute’s Solutions Summit to address the public health issues faced by Baltimore City in the realm of behavioral health. The Solutions Summit is the fourth step in OSI’s process to approach the office of the Mayor with significant actionable steps to address the major issues. OSI began the process in early 2016 to convene a community of voices based behavioral health providers, consumers, and advocates to surface critical issues they face in their work in the field of behavioral health in Baltimore. OSI specifically focuses on drug addiction treatment, criminal and juvenile justice, and education while focusing on the nexus between race and poverty.

BALTIMORE - Once a month, a team of high-level officials looks at every overdose fatality and the path that each individual took that led to death.

The Baltimore Overdose Fatality Review Team's goal: Identify missed opportunities for prevention, gaps in the system and areas for increased collaboration.

"We have high-level representatives from police, fire, health, behavioral health, SUD (substance use disorders) providers, the coroner's office parole and probation, hospital emergency departments, social services, pharmacy, office of the public defender, states attorney’s office, Maryland Poison Control, and our chief medical officer," said Adrienne Breidenstine, spokeswoman for Behavioral Health System Baltimore.