Recent News

Note From The Commissioner: Reducing Falls, Protecting Our Seniors

Apr 20th, 2018

It’s been a busy week at the Baltimore City Health Department! We announced the opening of a new school-based health center; joined the Mayor to sign two public health bills into law; participated in Light City and the March for Science; worked with Congressman Cummings and Senator Warren to support new legislation to establish a “Ryan White” for the opioid epidemic; hosted Law Day to support seniors and Precious Purple Sunday to support maternal and child health; issued a citywide warning for synthetic marijuana; and sued the Trump Administration. Please read on for these and other updates—and hear more on WYPR’s HealthWatch episode.

In this letter, I want to focus on the official launch of the citywide Falls Reduction Public Campaign and Strategy. Falls among older adults are a growing public health concern. Over three million older Americans visit the ER each year for falls; in Baltimore City, that’s nearly 5,000 seniors who fall. Each fall leads to an average hospitalization cost of $39,000. If we extrapolate, that means the cost of falls to Baltimore City – for medical costs alone – is $60 million.

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Opioid epidemic puts strain on Baltimore budget, Naloxone availability (Baltimore Post-Examiner)

Apr 19th, 2018

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings from Baltimore are working on legislation that requires the federal government to provide $10 billion to help fight the opioid crisis. The planned legislation was released Wednesday.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioidsnaloxone

Severe bleeding reported in Maryland from synthetic marijuana (Fox43)

Apr 19th, 2018

Health officials in Maryland have reported two more cases of severe bleeding problems in people who used synthetic marijuana. 

Read the entire story.

Leana Wen

Surgeon general wants Naloxone widely on hand. Is this feasible? (NBC News)

Apr 18th, 2018

When Surgeon General Jerome Adams issued an advisory calling for more people to carry naloxone — not just people at overdose risk, but also friends and family — experts and advocates were almost giddy.

But the drug’s price is an issue, said Dr. Leana Wen, the city’s health commissioner, and an emergency physician. She suggested that the federal government negotiate directly for a lower price, or give more money to organizations and agencies like hers so they can afford to maintain an adequate supply.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioidsnaloxone

Baltimore Wants to Reduce Elderly Fall Rate (AARP)

Apr 18th, 2018

Baltimore, a city filled with older, multistory row houses and alley houses, has launched a program designed to reduce the number of falls among its elderly residents — and what the city says is $60 million in hospitalization costs annually.

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Severe bleeding reported in Maryland from synthetic marijuana (WENY)

Apr 18th, 2018

Health officials in Maryland have reported two more cases of severe bleeding problems in people who used synthetic marijuana.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wen

Baltimore health official warns of fake marijuana's dangers (AP)

Apr 18th, 2018

Baltimore's health commissioner is joining the call urging people to stay away from fake marijuana as cases of severe bleeding by users tick upward. 

Dr. Leana Wen says synthetic cannabinoids, frequently touted as natural products, are in fact "extremely dangerous." In a statement, she says the substance has untested chemical compounds that can have "devastating effects for users."

Read the entire story.

Leana Wen

Baltimore health official warns of fake marijuana’s dangers (The Daily Record)

Apr 18th, 2018

Baltimore's health commissioner is joining the call urging people to stay away from fake marijuana as cases of severe bleeding by users tick upward.

Read the entire story.

Dr. Wen Issues Statement About Life-Threatening Bleeding After Using Synthetic Cannabinoids

Apr 17th, 2018

BALTIMORE, MD (APRIL 17, 2018) - Today, Baltimore City Health Commissioner, Dr. Leana Wen, issued the following statement about life-threatening bleeding after using synthetic cannabinoids:

"We want to warn all of our residents of the warning signs of someone who..." 

2018 March for Science Focused on Public Health Advocacy (Medscape)

Apr 17th, 2018

At the second annual March for Science, speakers here called for political action using science to inform some of the most pressing public health issues of the day, including the opioid crisis, gun violence, and ongoing funding of research for medical cures. 

Baltimore Health Commissioner Leana S. Wen, MD, gave an impassioned speech calling for more money toward the purchase of naloxone to treat more people who are addicted to opioids. Soon after becoming health commissioner in January 2015, Wen issued a blanket prescription for naloxone to all of Baltimore's residents. That program has saved more than 1700 lives, but there's still not enough of the medication to meet the need.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioidsnaloxone

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