Opioid epidemic puts strain on Baltimore budget, Naloxone availability (Baltimore Post-Examiner)

Thursday Apr 19th, 2018

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings from Baltimore are working on legislation that requires the federal government to provide $10 billion to help fight the opioid crisis. The planned legislation was released Wednesday.

The bill is an attempt to help slow the number of overdoses that are plaguing cities like Baltimore. The funds would provide a cash injection to the local and state governments that are struggling to maintain treatment services.

Baltimore’s Health Commissioner claims that they must count the amount of naloxone they have left and make the decision on who will receive the life-saving medicine

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When I’ve asked experts about these approaches, it’s not that any of them are bad. It’s that they fall short. For instance, Leana Wen, the former health commissioner of Baltimore (and soon-to-be president of Planned Parenthood), said that the Support for Patients and Communities Act “is simply tinkering around the edges.”

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