Tapping into The Wire

An engaging, fast-paced read that translates the fiction of a cable one-hour drama to the reality of an American City. Using the themes of the social determinants of health, governance, and intersectoral action, the book seeks to reframe the discourse about drug policy and the health of US cities. It is an important read for students and for those seeking to communicate the importance of social determinants of health and understand the politics of drugs and health in cities. – Danielle C. Ompad Journal of Urban Health A convincing argument that nonviolent drug users are part of a significant public health problem that demands an effective response from cities… Readers cannot help but feel sympathy for those who struggle with addiction and the plight of government officials who strive to create alternatives to this dilemma. Highly recommended for readers interested in substance abuse or criminal justice issues and prepared for intellectual engagement. Library Journal Beilenson leads us through the rationale and implementation of public health initiatives that might have an effect on the show’s characters, or on the city’s embattled residents those characters are meant to portray. – Andrew Cleary Rain Taxi Review of Books

Peter L. Beilenson, M.D., M.P.H., is the CEO of Evergreen Health Cooperative. He served as health officer of Howard County, Maryland, from 2007 to 2012 and as Baltimore City Health Commissioner from 1992 to 2005. Patrick A. McGuire is a journalist with more than twenty years of experience, fourteen of which were at the Baltimore Sun.