Press Releases

Health Commissioner Wen Announces Plan to Make Lifesaving Medication Available to All Baltimore Residents

Sep 30th, 2015

BALTIMORE, MD (September 30, 2015)–Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today announced plans to issue a “standing order” for naloxone, also called Narcan, a medication that completely reverses the effect of an opioid overdose. Under a change in state law that begins October 1, doctors in the state of Maryland affiliated with local health departments are now able to issue written standing orders that allow designated individuals, such as overdose response program trainees and pharmacists, to dispense naloxone without a doctor’s prescription.

With Dr. Wen’s standing order, Baltimore City will become first jurisdiction in Maryland to expand access to the opioid antidote.

Baltimore City Health Department Announces New Youth Violence Prevention Resource

Sep 29th, 2015

BALTIMORE, MD (September 29, 2015)– Today, the Baltimore City Health Department was joined by youth leaders from across the city to announce "Words Not Weapons,” a resource card campaign focused on communication as the key to violence prevention. This campaign will ask medical professionals, neighborhood leaders, and young people to pledge their commitment to spreading a message of non-violent conflict resolution.

Baltimore City Health Department Announces Over $20 million in CDC Funding to Help Reduce HIV Infections Among At-Risk Populations

Sep 25th, 2015

BALTIMORE, MD (September 25, 2015)–The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) announced today that Baltimore City was awarded over $20 million in grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to support efforts to reduce HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender populations, with an emphasis on MSM of color. The two grants awarded to BCHD are part of $185 million in funding distributed by the CDC to respond to the severe burden of HIV among MSM and transgender men and women.

While new HIV infections are declining across the city–and nationwide–new infections are increasing among MSM and transgender persons in Baltimore. African American populations are particularity at-risk–84 percent of those living with HIV in Baltimore are African American.

Baltimore City Health Department Releases Report Highlighting Community Health Survey Results

Sep 17th, 2015

Today, the Baltimore City Health Department released the second Baltimore Community Health Survey (CHS) Summary Results Report. The report is based on a survey conducted in the fall of 2014 of 1,722 adults across Baltimore City, and is a follow up to the 2009 CHS.

Safe Streets East Site to Reopen, West Baltimore Program Expansion to Begin

Sep 4th, 2015

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen announced today that the Safe Streets East location in McElderry Park will begin limited operations starting today, transitioning to full operations over the coming weeks, following a comprehensive review of the program which resulted in implementation of new training and security protocols to strengthen management and oversight.

Additionally Dr. Wen also announced that the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) has introduced today a Request for Proposals (RFP) to offer community- based organizations in West Baltimore the opportunity to bring the program credited with reducing gun violence to their neighborhoods. The new site will be Baltimore City’s fifth Safe Streets location. Current sites include: Cherry Hill, Mondawmin, Park Heights, and McElderry Park.

Baltimore City Observes International Overdose Awareness Day

Aug 31st, 2015

Officials across Baltimore City today observed International Overdose Awareness Day to mark the ongoing fight against overdoses in Baltimore and to remember the 1,113 lives lost to overdose over the last five years.

Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) hosted activities throughout the day, including:

  • Announcing a donation of approximately 6,500 lifesaving EVZIO® naloxone auto-injectors, a prescription for use in opioid overdose emergencies, from pharmaceutical company Kaléo;
  • Free naloxone trainings at five “DontDie.org” bus and Metro station poster sites throughout the city; and
  • A remembrance vigil hosted by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake where 1,113 purple roses—one for each life lost in Baltimore to overdose in the last 5 years— were placed at War Memorial Plaza to honor loved ones who have passed away from substance abuse and to encourage those still struggling with the disease of addiction.

"Vaccinations For Students = A Pass To Class"

Aug 21st, 2015

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.​

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

Aug 20th, 2015

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.

Baltimore City First Jurisdiction In Maryland To Mandate Naloxone Training For Drug Court Participants

Aug 12th, 2015

Beginning today, in an effort spearheaded by Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen, the Baltimore City Adult Drug Treatment Court (DTC) will be the first in Maryland to train participants on the use of naloxone while they are in court.  “Overdose deaths are a public health emergency,” said Dr. Wen.  “Last year, more people died from overdose than died from homicide.  The first step to recovery is staying alive. We need to get life-saving naloxone into the hands of people most at risk.” Individuals with a primary drug-related criminal offense are selected to participate in DTC as an alternative to more traditional legal settings.

"Baltimore City and County Health Departments Investigating Possible Measles Case"

Aug 7th, 2015

Today Health Commissioner Dr, Leana Wen announced that Baltimore County and Baltimore City Health Departments are currently investigating a possible, isolated case of measles in a Baltimore County resident who was seen for care at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore City. Upon recognition of a possible measles case, Sinai Hospital staff acted quickly and appropriately to reduce exposures.

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