Recent News

Baltimore church hosts naloxone tutorial with health commissioner Dr. Leana Wen (Batlimore Sun)

Deborah Woolford walked to the front of Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church in Baltimore on Sunday and rolled up her sleeve to learn firsthand how to treat someone overdosing on opioids.

The 61-year-old Old Goucher woman and another volunteer obliged Dr. Leana S. Wen, Baltimore’s health commissioner, as she demonstrated to the congregation the two ways of administering naloxone, the emergency, overdose-reversing drug known as Narcan.

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Planned Parenthood affiliates ask court to continue grants for teen pregnancy programs (The Hill)

Planned Parenthood affiliates have filed a motion in court to continue federal funding for programs receiving federal grants under the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP). Baltimore Commissioner of Health Dr. Leana Wen blasted the Trump administration last year, saying the White House gave "no communication" or warning that the grants would end.

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Note From The Commissioner: Advancing Public Health in Baltimore, and Maryland

The Baltimore City Health Department is active in Annapolis testifying in support of bills that will advance public health in Baltimore City and across Maryland. Members of our team testified in favor of a House bill that will establish a Drug Cost Review Commission, which would be responsible for setting fair rates for high cost prescription drugs in Maryland and increasing transparency in drug pricing. We also voiced our support for a Senate bill that will require state and local correctional facilities to have written policies in place concerning medical care for pregnant inmates.

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Bmore Healthy Newsletter: March 16, 2018

Click here to read the 3/16/18 newsletter. Subscribe to the Bmore Healthy newsletter.

In this issue:

  • Note from the Commissioner
  • Dr. Wen Gives Keynote Speech at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Interfaith Institute
  • WBFF-TV FOX 45: Dr. Wen Discusses Lawsuit Against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • and more

Philadelphia urges residents to carry overdose antidote (AP)

Officials in Philadelphia want residents to carry and use an opioid overdose antidote as part of the city's effort to combat skyrocketing overdoses. Baltimore's health commissioner has waived training requirements for those seeking to acquire the overdose-reversing drug and said any resident could go into a pharmacy and get the medication.

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A controversial study suggests anti-overdose med naloxone increases reckless opioid use (CNBC)

A new study has ignited controversy in the world of drug abuse prevention, applying the economic theory of "moral hazard" to the opioid crisis. "[Doleac and Mukherjee's] study assumes the passage of these laws lead immediately to everyone having easy access to naloxone when they need it, when this is not the case," said Leana Wen, Baltimore's health commissioner.

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Why a Study on Opioids Ignited a Twitter Firestorm (The Atlantic)

A paper on overdose-reversal drugs reached a conclusion no one liked. The pushback raised questions about sexism and scientific methods. 

“[Doleac and Mukherjee’s] study assumes that passage of these laws lead immediately to everyone having easy access to naloxone when they need it, when this is not the case,” said Leana Wen, Baltimore’s health commissioner.

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Governors Hunt for More Funding to Fight Opioid Addiction (CQ Roll Call)

Governors who are anxiously awaiting funding to fight opioid addiction are eyeing $6 billion set aside in the two-year budget deal (PL 115-123) for the epidemic that has yet to be appropriated or divvied up between federal agencies and the states.

“Since the president declared a state of emergency around opioids, we have not seen a tangible effect for those on the ground around the epidemic,” said Leana Wen, the commissioner of health for the city of Baltimore, who said she contacted a number of government officials about this problem.

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Amid efforts to expand naloxone access, a controversial new study questions its value (STAT)

Dr. Leana Wen weighs in on a working paper questioning the effects of expanding access to naloxone.

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