Yesterday, I joined Mayor Catherine Pugh and Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford to announce plans for the first Stabilization Center in Maryland—the beginning of Baltimore’s efforts to create a 24/7 “ER” for addiction and mental health. Mayor Pugh and Chief of Operations Pete Hammen have championed the Stabilization Center from when they were in the State Legislature; they were instrumental to Baltimore City securing the $3.6 million for capital costs for the Center. Mayor Pugh is truly at the forefront of leaders across the country to call for science-based, compassion treatment of individuals with the disease of addiction.

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Baltimore is trying a new way to treat people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, opening up a unique facility that will offer a safe, short-term place for them to recover and connect with other services.

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After quietly cutting funding for family planning services last year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has agreed to reinstate some funding for teen pregnancy prevention, NBC News reports. 

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Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford today joined Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh, Maryland Department of Health Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health Dr. Barbara J. Bazron, and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen to announce the opening of Maryland's first crisis stabilization center. The stabilization center will provide basic first aid, withdrawal management, and screening and referral to treatment on-site for individuals with a substance use disorder.

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