In Baltimore City, two people a day die of overdose. We need more support proportional to the demand for resources and disease severity.

We are rationing naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal medication, because we are running out while the demand grows. We only have about 4,000 naloxone kits remaining. If we gave out the kits as needed during our outreach around the city, we would run out in two weeks. Instead, it is expected that we stretch the kits until next summer. With more than 1,000 lives saved by residents using naloxone, we should not have to strategically choose who lives or dies.

As we help our friends and family members who fight to overcome the disease of addiction, they deserve our support and reliable resources. Today, I gave the keynote address at the graduation ceremony for the Baltimore City Drug Treatment Court Program, which rehabilitates substance users and addresses their addiction. The program empowers them to return to their lives, families, and friends. We need to address addiction from a position of compassion to reduce stigma. By approaching the disease of addiction based on science, we recognize addiction as a disease and know that recovery is possible with treatment.

Thank you for your continued support of our efforts to improve the health and well-being of the residents of Baltimore.

Sincerely,

Leana S. Wen, M.D., M.Sc.

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