On Wednesday, Dr. Wen joined Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Michael Botticelli, National Association of County and City Health Officials Executive Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, as well as leaders and advocates from across the country for the final event in the White House's Making Healthcare Better Series on Substance Use Disorder.

“It was an honor to be in the company of so many federal, state, and local leaders who are ensuring that substance use disorders are treated with the same compassion and urgency as other diseases,” Dr. Wen said. “Now is the time to make our voices heard, to make sure that the next administration builds on the progress made. We must continue with science-based approaches to affirm that addiction is a disease; treatment exists; and regarding it as a moral failing is unethical and inhumane.”

Dr. Wen shared progress made in Baltimore to eliminate stigma and save lives from overdose. Last year, she issued a standing order to give all Baltimore City residents access to naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal medication. Since then, nearly 17,000 residents have been trained and have saved the lives of 531 Baltimoreans.

There are 3 main tasks surrounding the overdose epidemic:

1. Making naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal medication, accessible to everyone. In Baltimore, the standing order dictates that anyone who does the naloxone training (in person or online) can go to a pharmacy to get the medication. Over 15,000 people have learned how to save a life.
2. Fighting stigma with science. The words people use to describe “addicts” must change instead to focus on the individual and the substance use disorder they have. Viewing addiction as a crime is unscientific, inhumane, and ineffective. Furthermore, programs helping people with substance use disorders, such as the Needle Exchange Program, have been extremely successful in helping prevent spread of disease while also teaching them how to help others with naloxone.
3. Increasing access to treatment. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, only 1 in 10 people with substance use disorder actually receive necessary treatment.

Read more about substance use disorder programming in Baltimore and watch the panel discussion.