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

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

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:

Issues With Calls To Field Health Services

The Baltimore City Health Department’s Field Health Services office has been experiencing problems with phone lines (busy signals, dropped calls, etc). We are actively working to identify and repair the phone lines/extensions that are causing the problems. Thank you in advance for your patience as we attempt to provide our clients with service and resolve this urgent issue.

"Vaccinations For Students = A Pass To Class"

Two recent cases of potential measles in Baltimore, each of which proved to be negative after lab testing, serve as a reminder and a call to action to ensure children are vaccinated against preventable diseases. At an immunization clinic at the city’s Eastern Health Clinic today, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen and Karl Perry, Chief School Supports Officer for the Baltimore City Public Schools, reminded parents and caregivers that students must have all required state immunizations in order to participate in school, which opens next Monday, August 31.

"They’ve overdosed, or seen other people die. Now they’re learning to save victims’ lives" (Washington Post) August 21, 2015

The men filled the dark wooden benches of a drug court here Thursday morning, watching as Kevin Burns attached what looked like the end of a syringe and an attachment for nasal spray together in an attempt to revive his overdose victim. “His lips are a little bit blue,” said Burns, who works on drug overdose prevention for Baltimore through the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “If he doesn’t breathe, he will die. We have five to six minutes. That’s all we have.”

"Preventing Tobacco Sales To Underage Children Is Just A (311) Phone Call Away"

Baltimore residents can now help health officials to work on the life-changing problem of tobacco use with a simple phone call.  Today, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen announced a new tool in the fight against sales of tobacco to underage youth. Individuals can now call 311 to report businesses that are selling tobacco to youth under age 18, and Health Department officials will investigate each complaint.  The Health Department has launched a public education campaign, with messaging inside buses and radio advertisements encouraging individuals to call 311.

"Safe Streets program to expand to fifth site in Baltimore" (WMAR) August 18,2015

Plans for a fifth Safe Streets site are moving forward thanks to grant money from the Abell Foundation. The program started off slowly and eventually expanded. There have been a few years now with four Safe Streets sites that include McElderry Park, Cherry Hill, Mondawmin and Park Heights.

"What you need to know about back to school immunizations" (WMAR) August 18,2015

Back to school immunizations can literally be one of the most painful parts of the back to school process for children. Although they might involve some temporary discomfort, health officials say immunizations are key. Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner, stopped by ABC2 In Focus to talk about the importance of getting the required immunizations and staying up to date with them.

"Baltimore teaching drug offenders how to use heroin antidote" (WMAR) August 13, 2015

The Baltimore City Health Department has ramped up its effort against the "War on Heroin" in Baltimore City. On Thursday, drug offenders in drug treatment court were trained how to used Naloxone. It's an over-the-counter drug that serves as an antidote to a heroin or opioid overdose. The city said it wants to get Naloxone into the hands of people who are the most at risk. The participants in drug treatment court are being closely supervised during their recovery and participation in drug treatment programs.

Baltimore City First In State To Provide in Court Naloxone Training For Drug Court Participants (FOX45)

Within the walls of Baltimore City’s Circuit Court the city’s Health Commissioner conducted an in court training session for nearly 30 Baltimore City Drug Treatment Court participants, teaching them how to administer Naloxone.  It’s a medication that is used to reverse the effects of an overdose.    “I think this is a way we can save lives in Baltimore City and really make an impact on the ever increasing overdose deaths,” said Ellen Heller, Circuit Court Judge. The in court training is a first for the state.  Its participants were chosen because they are at risk of an overdose and/or are in contact with people who are at risk. “If somebody is overdosing on heroin or fentanyl or oxycodone or other opiates they will stop breathing and within a matter of minutes they will die,” said Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner.

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