A coalition of City and State health officials, co-led by Dr. Wen, submitted a first-of-its kind  Citizen’s Petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling for a “black box warning” about the dangerous combination of opioids and benzodiazepines. This effort, covered by USA Today, Forbes, and the Washington Post , will help call attention to serious or life-threatening risks of mixing these medications.

Across the country, nearly 25,000 die each year from prescription drug overdoses. 1 in 3 unintentional overdose deaths from prescription opioids also involve benzodiazepines. A new CDC study released this week by the CDC confirmed these trends, noting that benzodiazepines are second only to opioids in prescription drug overdose deaths.

The “black box warning” proposed this week would state that prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines together increases the risk of fatal overdose. Black box warnings appear on the labels of prescription drugs and call attention to serious or life-threatening risks.

Dr. Wen and Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, Dr. Alexander-Scott were joined in signing the petition by health directors from 16 other states and territories and 12 other cities, along with a collection of nationally renowned academics, researchers, and physicians.

A second petition can be signed by the public. We urge you to join us as we call on the FDA to warn consumers about this dangerous mix of medications.

By following our recommendations, the FDA can take an important step to reduce the toll of addiction and fatal overdose in communities across the count.

This month, health officials from across Baltimore unveiled the newest tool for combating opioid overdose death: online naloxone training and certification—the first such training of its kind in the country. Now, anyone in Baltimore can get certified to save lives with naloxone—the overdose reversal antidote—in under fifteen minutes from their homes, library, or anywhere else with Internet access.  Immediately after the training, residents can go to their neighborhood pharmacy and be given naloxone—without a doctor's prescription.

This is part of Baltimore City's aggressive opioid overdose campaign that includes blanket prescriptions for naloxone and street outreach trainings to over 8,000 residents in 2015 alone.

Please join us in our efforts to save lives. Go to dontdie.org/getcertified. It will take less than 15 minutes of your time. Get certified. Naloxone should be part of everyone's medicine cabinet. Join us to save lives today and create opportunities for tomorrow.

We released a white paper on the state of health in Baltimore. With numerous conversations upon us this spring that cover topics of high priority to Baltimore City residents- the economy, public safety, education- it is also crucial to focus on the one issue that cuts across all of them: health.

In Baltimore, we see that the currency of inequality is years of life, and the opposite of poverty is health and well-being. The average life expectancy in Roland Park, for example, is 84 years; in Downtown/Seton Hill it is 65 years — nearly a 20-year difference. For decades, many of our citizens have experienced concentrated poverty and rampant disparities that are glaringly obvious when we compare health outcomes across neighborhoods.

This white paper is a comprehensive summary of key issues, services, and policies at the health department, including (1) essential background information on key topics from behavioral health to chronic disease; (2) our accomplishments over the past year; and (3) our aspirations for the future.

We believe in sharing openly the progress we have made against our top health priorities within the city, and encourage you to review the paper and to share it with anyone that you believe would benefit from seeing this content!

As Dr. Wen mentioned in her recent TEDxBaltimore talk, it is critical that we spread the word of public health. Together, we can improve the health of our city and aim for a just, safe, and equitable future.

This month Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake signed into law our bill imposing harsh penalties to individuals and retailers selling synthetic drugs.

Synthetic drugs, known as “K2”, “Spice,” and “Bath Salts,” are a growing public health threat nationwide. A survey found that 1 in 9 high school students reported using synthetic drugs this past year, making them the second most consumed drug among this demographic. 

To help raise awareness of the harmful effects of synthetic drugs, we launched a public education campaign in October targeting consumers and retailers. As part of this effort, BCHD sent 1,300 letters to retailers explaining how to spot synthetic drugs and encouraging them to post “Not A Drug Dealer” signs to show their commitment to not selling synthetic drugs.

To learn more about the synthetic drug law and campaign, please visit: http://health.baltimorecity.gov/syntheticdrugban.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen provides the following guidance for Baltimoreans after the first confirmed case of Zika virus in Maryland:

If you have not traveled outside of the US to a country with Zika transmission, there is no cause for alarm, because Zika is primarily transmitted by mosquitos, not through casual contact.

If you have traveled to a country with Zika transmission and you are not a pregnant woman, watch for symptoms. Most people with Zika do not have symptoms; some may have mild symptoms like fever, body aches, headaches, and red eyes but they go away without treatment. Contact your doctor if you develop symptoms. If you are a man with a pregnant partner, and you have traveled to an area with Zika transmission, abstain from sex or use a condom every time.

If you are pregnant with recent travel to a country with Zika transmission, contact your doctor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending pregnant women with or without symptoms to be tested for Zika as there are possible associations with birth defects. If you have not yet traveled and you are pregnant, consult the CDC website and check with your doctor before you book your trip.

This is a quickly developing situation. The Baltimore City Health Department is closely monitoring and working with our State and Federal partners. For more information, visit BCHD website and CDC website.

Maryland General Assembly’s legislative session is in full swing and we are working with partners across the region to advocate for vital legislation. 

Dr. Wen testified before the Maryland Senate Finance Committee urging the General Assembly to support Senate Bill 382, state-sponsored legislation that revises Maryland’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), and offered amendments to the bill that would encourage physicians to co-prescribe naloxone with opioid medications and to caution against concurrent prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines. In 2014, there were 259 million prescriptions written for opioids; that’s one opioid prescription for every adult in America! Requiring providers to document potential dangers helps hold them accountable.

Additionally, BCHD's Emilie Gilde testified to increase Maryland’s tobacco tax by an additional $1, to help curb smoking rates, particularly among young people. This comes on the tail of research that projects that a $1 tax hike would result in a 10.7% reduction in youth smoking and 23,100 current adult smokers quitting. We hope that everyone in the community will rally around our proposal.  

Andrew Nicklas, our Director of Legislative Affairs, also testified on the Marketing Synthetic Drugs- Penalties bill. This would prohibit the sale of synthetic drugs by any business licensed by the state. This proposal follows legislation that BCHD helped pass in Baltimore earlier this year which imposes stiff fines against businesses caught selling the products. We hope the state will follow Baltimore’s lead and assist our current efforts by adding additional penalties from the state.

And Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Assistant Commissioner of Clinical Services, testified in support of a bill that would permanently prohibit the sale of powdered alcohol in Maryland. A year ago, we introduced the Baltimore Statement on Dangers Of Powdered Alcohol, which highlights the public health risks associated with powdered alcohol. BCHD brought together doctors and public health leaders across the state to achieve a temporary ban on the distribution and sale of this substance. Last week, we published an article in the Annals of Internal Medicine, noting how efforts here in Baltimore and in other cities are serving as a national model for policy change at both the state and federal levels. By passing this permanent ban, we can ensure that our children are not recklessly exposed to these dangerous products

Additionally, Dr. Wen testified before the Committee on Health & Government Operations Committee urging the General assembly to provide support for legislation that would require a second HIV test to be conducted in the third trimester of pregnancy.

To those of you who participated in the Baltimore City Health Department's eleventh B’More Health Talk last week, thank you for joining us. These twice-monthly virtual town hall meetings are an opportunity for leaders in our community to discuss efforts to reduce health disparities, engage in our city's collaborative strategy, and share the work that organizations are doing.

This week’s episode was our first ever live webcast and featured a remarkable panel of guests including Co-founder/CEO of Sisters Together and Reaching (STAR) Reverend Debra Hickman, Dr. Chris Beyrers the Desmond M. Tutu Professor of Public Health and Human Rights at JHSPH and the President of the International AIDS Society, and the Baltimore City Health Department’s Assistant Commissioner of HIV/STD Services Dr. Patrick Chaulk. On this episode, we discussed medical advances made over the last 30 years that have transformed HIV into a chronic disease instead of a death sentence; the importance of credible messengers and targeted marketing campaigns for decreasing the spread of HIV; and how we must transform the conversation around HIV into one that discusses sex in general and empowers people to take charge of their own sexual health.

Because this episode was a webcast, the recording will not be available until next week. We will notify you when it is ready and then you can listen to it at https://soundcloud.com/bmorehealthtalks. You will also be able to watch the video of the show on our YouTube channel.

Our next B’More Health Talk will take place on Friday, March 11th from 12:30-1:30 pm, and will be a discussion on Baltimore through a public health lens.

Please join us on Friday, March 11th, by calling 605-562-3180 and using the access code 117-245-291 and tweet-chat live with the hashtag #BMoreHealthTalks. In the meantime, we hope you will email us at bmoreheard@baltimorecity.gov with suggestions, ideas, or comments for this and future episodes.

Dr. Wen joined Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, representatives from the American Heart Association-Maryland Region, Saint Agnes Hospital, the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and members of the community to kick of American Heart Month in Baltimore on Monday.

This was one of several February events held across Baltimore to increase community awareness about the prevalence of heart disease among women and to educate local residents about the tools and resources that are available and to understand how to minimize risk for developing cardiovascular disease

The National Heart Attack Alert Program notes these major signs of a heart attack: chest pain or discomfort, discomfort in other areas of the upper body (including one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach), shortness of breath, or other symptoms (i.e. cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness. The Baltimore City Health Department proudly promotes American Heart Month and encourages you to make healthy changes to lower your risk of developing heart disease. 

Controlling and preventing risk factors is also important for people who already have heart disease. To lower your risk:

• Know your body, your numbers, and don’t be afraid to speak up;
• Keep our kids healthy;
• Cut out soda. Take our 30-day challenge and Rethink Your Drink;
• Stop smoking.

Dr. Wen spoke before a sold out crowd of 750 at "The Stoop Turns 10!: Stories about the Awkward Adventures of Adolescence," a Stoop Story event featuring storytellers Larry Doyle, Ben Doyle, Asif Majid, Jeff Eline, Erin Mandras, and others.

She shared a powerful story on her experience growing up with a stutter, learning to face stuttering openly, the power of meeting others who stutter, and so much more.

Get your strut on while raising awareness about HIV/AIDS among women and girls in your community. The walk will take place at Druid Hill Park’s Sundial Pavilion from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday, May 14th. Bring your friends for a day to remember! For more information contact the BCHD STD/HIV Prevention Program: jillian.newsam@baltimorecity.gov or Vonda.colson@baltimorecity.gov.