City Health Commissioner: More Deaths From Overdose Than Homicide In Baltimore (WJZ)

Monday Feb 13th, 2017

The number of people dying from opioid overdoses has reached epidemic proportions. City and state officials say it’s a national problem.

Baltimore city declaring the opioid problem a public health emergency.

“There are more people dying from overdose here in Baltimore City than they Are dying from homicide,” says Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner.

Health experts tell WJZ part of the problem is that these drugs are easy to get and deadlier than most people think.

A silent killer, growing deadlier by the day. Opioids, meant to relieve pain, cause a spike in overdoses and deaths. Fentanyl, one of the most potent drugs, is 100 times stronger than heroin.

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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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