News Coverage

"Baltimore issues Code Red Heat Advisory for weekend" (WBAL-TV) July 18, 2015

Jul 18th, 2015

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for much of Maryland from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday. Additionally, Baltimore City health officials have issued a Code Red Heat Advisory for Saturday and Sunday with an expected heat index topping 100 degrees. Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen is encouraging people to take precautions when outdoors. "Heat is one of the leading killers for weather-related emergencies. It's really important to stay indoors when possible, drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcohol and don't leave kids and pets in your cars," Wen said.

"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.

"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."

"As heroin overdoses surge in Baltimore, the price of the antidote skyrocket" (WMAR) July 13, 2015

Jul 13th, 2015

In 2014 there were more drug and alcohol overdose deaths in Baltimore than people killed on the streets.  Heroin was responsible for 63% of those.  To make matters worse, the lifesaving antidote for opioid overdoses has more than doubled.  Now, local leaders are taking action. A Baltimore task force taking on heroin was looking for a new approach to an old problem, and after 9 months, the group has a list of recommendations to battle the epidemic.  Part of the plan includes getting the overdose antidote naloxone out to the people who need it. "I have given it to literally hundreds of patients and watched as someone who stopped breathing walk and talk again within seconds,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner, Dr. Leana Wen.  “We have to get naloxone into the hands of every person who can save a life."

"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.

"Baltimore officials tackle heroin epidemic" (WBAL-TV) July 13, 2015

Jul 13th, 2015

The city of Baltimore is tackling the heroin epidemic. There's a new push in preventing overdoses using the ever more-expensive drug naloxone. The focus of the task force is saving lives. A billboard is part of that effort. The price of naloxone continues to skyrocket. It's a drug widely used by EMS crews to counteract heroin and opium-based pill overdoses.

"Enough With The Sugary Drinks, Doctors Say" (WYPR) July 8, 2015

Jul 9th, 2015

They’re a regular sight on the streets of Baltimore; morbidly obese teenagers sipping on some kind of sugary drink.  Medical professionals have said the more of those drinks they consume the more likely they are to have health problems, even while they’re young. "I've seen my patients, who are eight years old and weigh 200 pounds," said Baltimore Health Commissioner Leana Wen, a trained emergency room physician.  She said she has also seen teens as young as 15 with high blood pressure and adult on-set diabetes.

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