Recent News

"Raccoon Thrown Out of A Car Tests Positive for Rabies"

Jul 17th, 2015

On Wednesday, July 15th, a raccoon that was thrown out of a silver sedan near 1610 E. Preston St. tested positive for rabies.  If you think you know the driver or passengers in the vehicle please have them contact the City Hall Operator at 410-396-3100.  An eyewitness saw the raccoon being tossed out of the sedan in a box and contacted Animal Control.   

"Fighting the disease of addiction" (Baltimore Sun Editorial) July 16, 2015

Jul 16th, 2015

If you have a heart attack, the ER physician doesn't just give you an aspirin and send you home. If your kidneys fail, doctors don't throw up their hands and discharge you because they're short on dialysis machines. But if you're lucky enough to survive a heroin overdose, you might have to wait weeks to get an appointment at a drug treatment center, and even then you're as likely as not to be told there are no beds available.

"Baltimore's 'Don't Die' heroin campaign was created to 'knock people over the head" (BBJ)

Jul 16th, 2015

Direct. Bold. Punch-you-in-the-face. However you want to describe it, Baltimore City Health Department's new anti-overdose campaign, with its cautionary yellow and black color scheme and DontDie.org website, is certainly different that anything the city has done before.

Don’t Die: Baltimore’s Heroin Task Force Unveils Recommendations

Jul 16th, 2015

On Monday afternoon, under a billboard reading “DONTDIE.ORG”, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced the release and recommendations of the Mayor’s Heroin Treatment & Prevention Task Force report. Speakers at the press conference included the Mayor, Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen, Rep. Elijah Cummings and representatives of the recovery and treatment communities.

Don't Die Campaign

"How Can Baltimore Reduce The Number Of Heroin Overdoses?" (WYPR) July 13, 2015

Jul 13th, 2015

Deaths by overdoses of heroin or prescription opioids in Baltimore are alarmingly more frequent: about 25% more people in the city died of heroin overdoses last year than in 2013, and the numbers are growing. State and local officials have been scrambling to figure out a way to stem the surge in overdoses. Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake convened a task force to study the problem and propose solutions. Those recommendations will be released later today. With Sheilah now to give us a preview of them is Baltimore City’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Leana Wen.

"Baltimore's heroin task force has a $20M proposal to reduce overdose deaths" (Baltimore Business Journal) July 13, 2015

Jul 13th, 2015

Around-the-clock addiction treatment services and a public outreach campaign aimed at addressing stigma around addiction are among a Baltimore task force's recommendations for tackling the city’s heroin crisis. Baltimore's Heroin Treatment and Prevention Task Force on Monday unveiled a $20 million, 10-point proposal for curbing heroin and opioid overdose deaths and expanding treatment support options.

"Baltimore's heroin task force wants 24-hour treatment options to stem overdoses" (Baltimore Sun) July 13, 2015

Jul 13th, 2015

To stem the growing heroin addiction rates and overdose deaths, a Baltimore task force plans to unveil a more than $20 million proposal Monday that includes around-the-clock treatment options. "What we need to do is move the needle in Baltimore City," said Baltimore Health Commissioner Leana Wen. "There are a lot of partners already working with the city."

"Mayor’s Heroin Task Force Calls for Citywide Overdose Plan, 24/7 Access to Addiction Treatment, and Public Education Campaign to Fight Stigma"

Jul 13th, 2015

The Mayor’s Heroin Treatment and Prevention Task Force today called for 10 bold steps to attack the city’s epidemic heroin and opioid addiction, including having 24/7 “treatment on demand” for substance users and a public education campaign to encourage treatment and combat stigma. Convened by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in October 2014, the Task Force was co-chaired by Bernard J. McBride, CEO Behavioral Health System Baltimore, and Dr. Samuel Ross, CEO of Bon Secours Baltimore Health System, and was comprised of 35 community leaders, public health experts and government representatives. 

There were 303 total drug and alcohol overdose deaths in Baltimore City in 2014, compared with 246 in 2013, a 23 percent increase. Last year, 192 overdose deaths were heroin-related, compared with 150 in 2013. There are an estimated 18,900 individuals who use heroin in Baltimore.

Mayor’s Heroin Treatment and Prevention Task Force Recommendations Released

Jul 13th, 2015

The Mayor’s Heroin Treatment and Prevention Task Force today called for 10 bold steps to attack the city’s epidemic heroin and opioid addiction problem, including having 24/7 “treatment on demand” for substance users and a public education campaign to encourage treatment and combat stigma. Convened by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in October 2014, the Task Force was co-chaired by Bernard J. McBride, CEO Behavioral Health System Baltimore, and Dr. Samuel Ross, CEO of Bon Secours Baltimore Health System, and was comprised of 35 community leaders, public health experts and government representatives.

"Task force calls for expanded services to save heroin addicts" (WMAR) July 13, 2015

Jul 13th, 2015

Long before the recent resurgence of heroin on the streets of Baltimore, David Zhitnitsky fell victim to the drug, and he found himself homeless, sleeping on a mattress, when a total stranger helped save his life. "The woman comes up to me with her son and tells me, 'You know, I see you're struggling.  I see you have some issues.  Maybe I can help you.'  I said, 'Maam, believe me, you don't want to get into the problems that I have.  It's more than you can handle.'" A crackdown on prescription pain killers in recent years turned heroin into a cheap alternative and last year Baltimore had almost 200 fatal overdoses or about a third of the total statewide. "Here in Baltimore where 19,000 people use heroin, it's not random people who have addictions. It is, as our mayor said, our families, our friends and our neighbors," said City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen.

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