Bupenorphine. This highly effective treatment for heroin addicts has been available to more than 350 patients in Baltimore, with 130 doctors currently holding waivers to be able to prescribe this treatment.
Operation Safe Streets. Awarded over $380,000 to the Living Classrooms Foundations to implement Operation Safe Streets, a violence prevention program based on the highly successful “Cease Fire” Chicago. This community-based program will focus on reducing shootings in Baltimore City.
Anti-Smoking and Smoking Cessation. The City will save scores of lives in Baltimore with The Clean Indoor Air Act that will reduce toxic secondhand smoke and make our city healthier. Following Baltimore’s leadership, the State of Maryland adopted a strong secondhand smoke law for the entire state. The Health Department has offered unprecedented support to smokers trying to quit by announcing an innovative program that allows city residents to get free counseling, nicotine patches, and nicotine gum just by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW. More than 1,000 residents have called seeking support, and 772 have received nicotine patches.
Animal Adoptions. The Baltimore Area Rescue and Care Shelter found more nearly 1,200 animals homes since July 2006, an increase of 500 from previous year.
B’More Healthy. The Department is bringing its public health priorities to the public through the Mayor’s “B’More Healthy” Campaign. The campaign informs and advises Baltimore residents about risks and opportunities to improve their health, through a series of advertisements around the city.
Reaching Out to Drug-Addicted Population. Compared to this time last year, the Health Department’s Needle Exchange Program has distributed 40,000 more clean needles to the addicted to help reduce the transmission of disease in this at-risk population. It has also referred 12% more clients to drug treatment. Moreover, since July 2006, the Staying Alive Program has trained 703 people at-risk for drug overdose on life-saving techniques to aid overdosing victims, compared to 186 in the previous fiscal year.