Press Releases

Baltimore City Health Department Offers Comment to CDC’s Proposed 2016 Guideline for Prescribing Opioids

Jan 13th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (January 13, 2016)– Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) officials issued a letter this week providing comment to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Proposed 2016 Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. This is the latest effort from BCHD to combat and ultimately end opioid use disorders abuse and overdose.

“In Baltimore City, we have declared opioid abuse a public health emergency. Though there is much that can be done on the city and state levels, we know that we cannot end the nation’s opioid epidemic without the support of and guidance from our federal partners,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. “We commend the CDC’s efforts to encourage best practices for prescribing, and applaud their continued efforts to bring greater national attention to this public health crisis.”

Health Commissioner Wen Declares Code Blue Alert for Tuesday Night

Jan 12th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (January 12, 2016)– With overnight temperatures predicted to fall into the teens with wind chill, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today issued a Code Blue declaration for Baltimore City overnight. 

“I am issuing a Code Blue Declaration tonight in Baltimore and encourage residents to stay in indoors, especially those most vulnerable to cold,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. “Extreme cold temperatures can permanently injure, or even kill. Hypothermia, or low body temperature, can be just as dangerous as extreme heat, so it is important to stay indoors in heated areas. Be sure to check on your elderly neighbors to ensure that they have heat and power tonight.”

Baltimore City Health Department, Councilman Mosby Announce Efforts to Educate Residents on the Health Dangers of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

Jan 11th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (January 11, 2015)– In an effort to reduce childhood obesity, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today joined Councilman Nick Mosby to announce a City Council bill that would require warning labels for sugar-sweetened beverages in advertisements, restaurant menus, and in any city store that sells those products. 

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Commends Lift on Federal Funding Ban for Needle Exchange Programs

Jan 7th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (January 7, 2016)– Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen issued the following statement commending Congress’s decision to effectively lift the federal funding ban for needle exchange programs under a provision in the recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act:

Health Commissioner Wen Declares First Code Blue Alert of the Winter Season

Jan 4th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (January 4, 2016)– With overnight temperatures predicted to fall into the teens with a single-digit wind chill, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr.

Dr. Leana Wen Commends New Law Banning Animal Fighting Paraphernalia

Dec 19th, 2015

BALTIMORE, MD (December 19, 2015)– Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen issued the following statement commending a new law in effect today that creates a criminal charge for the possession of animal fighting paraphernalia in Baltimore City:

Dr. Leana Wen Reminds Residents to Take Precautions to Prevent Foodborne Illness

Dec 16th, 2015

BALTIMORE, MD (December 16, 2015)– Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today issued the following statement urging residents to take precautions in order to prevent foodborne illness throughout the winter season:

Dr. Leana Wen Applauds State’s Decision to Expand Access for Opioid Overdose Antidote across Maryland

Dec 14th, 2015

BALTIMORE, MD (December 14, 2015)– Today, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen issued the following statement applauding the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for issuing a statewide standing order allowing pharmacists to dispense naloxone, also called Narcan, a medication that completely reverses the effect of an opioid overdose, without a prescription under the State’s Overdose Response Program:

Baltimore’s B’more for Healthy Babies Honored at MACo Conference with Local Governance Best Practices Award

Dec 10th, 2015

CAMBRIDGE, MD (December 10, 2015)– Recognizing the program’s immense success reducing infant mortality rates, the Baltimore City Health Department’s innovative B’more for Healthy Babies (BHB) initiative was awarded the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance County Best Practices Award today during the Inaugural Banquet and Awards Ceremony at the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Winter Conference.

Commissioner Wen Testifies before U.S. Senate HELP Committee on Baltimore City’s Efforts to End Nation’s Opioid Epidemic

Dec 8th, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 8, 2015)– Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen testified Tuesday before the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) to offer her perspective on the opioid epidemic affecting millions across the country, and to propose suggestions to improve federal policies to combat and ultimately end opioid use disorders abuse and overdose.

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