On Thursday, President Trump announced that he was declaring the opioid epidemic to be a public health emergency, rather than a national state of emergency. For access to the complete story click here.

The declaration of an opioid emergency by President Trump has put the focus on the need for treatment. And now some communities are asking who will pay. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports on the rising costs of treating the epidemic.

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Leana S. Wen, MD, MSc, FAAEM, was en route to speak at an endowed lecture at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) Oct.

Baltimore’s short on a lifesaving drug. Declaring the opioid crisis a national emergency can help.

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This week, President Trump announced that he plans to formally declare a statement of emergency on the opioid epidemic. It’s about time. Experts, including the President’s own Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, have repeatedly called for the President to put the full weight of the federal government to stem the tide of this disease that is claiming hundreds of lives per day.

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Dr. Leana Wen appeared on WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore on Sunday, October 15 to discuss how BCHD is working to decrease health disparities in Baltimore.

For access to the complete interview, click here. 

Dr. Leana Wen was interviewed by Soledad O'Brien on Matter of Fact on Sepember 13, 2017 about the opioid crisis. WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore televised the interview live. You can view it here.

Several weeks ago, President Trump stated that the opioid crisis was a “national emergency.” To many of us in public health, it was a confusing statement. Just a few days earlier, the president and Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price stated that they would not declare a state of emergency, claiming that emergencies are time-bound and resource-finite situations.

As an emergency physician and Commissioner of Health in Baltimore City — where approximately two people a day die from overdose — I can tell you that is not the case. Addiction is a disease, treatment exists and communities around the country are succeeding in fighting the epidemic.

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The opioid epidemic raging across the country recognizes few boundaries. Its victims are young and old, the highly educated and high school dropouts, rich and poor, women and men.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen said that one of the many obstacles to overcome in treating opioid misuse is the pernicious stigma that attaches to drug addiction. 

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