Recent News

Fetanyl-related deaths rise as Maryland's opioid crisis rages on (Baltimore Business Journal)

Jul 26th, 2018

Maryland's deadly opioid crisis is showing no signs of abating with the latest state data highlighting a rising number of deaths due to fetanyl use.

Fentanyl-related deaths continue to rise, increasing from 1,119 in 2016 to 1,594 in 2017, according to information released Thursday on unintentional drug and alcohol-related intoxication deaths from the Maryland Department of Health. The agency's statistics include deaths in 2017 and the first three months of 2018.

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Leana Wenopioids

Baltimore Just Became the First City to Ban Soda From Kids’ Menus (Red Tricycle)

Jul 26th, 2018

With rising childhood obesity rates a growing concern in the United States, one city has taken a big step towards reducing kids’ sugar intake. Baltimore has just become the first major city in the country to have soda banned from kids’ menus.

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Leana Wen

Doctors at Anne Arundel Medical Center to discuss gun safety with patients (Capital Gazette)

Jul 26th, 2018

When patients at Anne Arundel Medical Center meet with their doctors, the conversations soon will broach a new topic beyond medical history and diagnoses: gun safety.

Hospital officials — viewing gun violence as a public health epidemic — want to strip the politics out of the gun ownership debate and have frank, non-judgmental talks about the measures patients are taking to keep their firearms safe.

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Leana Wen

Maryland's drug-related deaths increase for seventh straight year, reach all-time high in 2017 (Baltimore Sun)

Jul 26th, 2018

The number of drug- and alcohol-related deaths in Maryland soared to an all-time high of 2,282 last year as the state continued to struggle with an opioid addiction problem that has gripped the entire country.

“This is an escalating epidemic,” said Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana S. Wen. “But still we don’t even see the peak of this epidemic yet.”

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Leana Wenopioids

City bans popular item from kids’ menus (kidspot.com)

Jul 25th, 2018

A major US city has made it illegal for cafes and restaurants to include sugary drinks on children's menus. 

The city – in the state of Maryland which has a population of more than six million – has prohibited restaurants offering kids soft drinks, instead making the default kids' menu options water, milk and 100 percent fruit juices.

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Leana Wen

Democrats, health leaders protest potential loss of women’s health service funds (The Daily Record)

Jul 24th, 2018

Maryland’s congressional delegation and Baltimore City officials denounced Monday a proposed federal rule that they say could restrict access to women’s healt

Baltimore City, Md. Congressional delegation fight proposed federal anti-abortion rule (Baltimore Business Journal)

Jul 24th, 2018

Baltimore City's mayor and health commissioner were joined by the full force of the local Congressional delegation today in denouncing a move by the Trump adm

Baltimore officials denounce proposed cuts to reproductive health centers under federal rule (The Baltimore Sun)

Jul 24th, 2018

Baltimore’s congressional delegation joined city officials Monday in denouncing potential federal cuts to reproductive health services.

I chose not to have an abortion, but I'm still glad I was counseled on the option (Baltimore Sun)

Jul 24th, 2018

In an op-ed by a Baltimore City Health Department clinic client, she describes her experiences with the clinic and the dangers of the Title X proposed regulations for women like her. 

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Proposed Title X changes could affect health services funding in Baltimore, city delegation warns (WMAR)

Jul 24th, 2018

Cities officials concerned about the effects potential new Title X restrictions might have on women's access to health services were joined in their worry by member's of Baltimore's Congressional delegation Monday.

Proposed changes to the Title X Family Planning Program may affect funding for Baltimore’s 23 sites that provide such services, warn Mayor Catherine Pugh, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, and Congressman John Sarbanes.

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Leana Wen

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