The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services is highlighting treatment services after suspected heroin-related deaths of four people in five hours on Sunday.
Evidence of heroin use was recovered at each of the sites in Wilmington, Claymont, and Newark, according to New Castle County Police.
DHSS also released a guide to opioid abuse. See document below. Click to enlarge.
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“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost loved ones this weekend,” said DHSS Cabinet Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker. “Addiction is a chronic disease with people and their families potentially fighting a lifelong battle together. As we work to address this epidemic, DHSS reminds people that prevention is the best medicine — do not start using illegal drugs and carefully consider prescription pain medication regimens that include opioids.”
“Delaware is working hard to ensure there are detox and treatment slots available,” added DHSS Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Director Michael Barbieri. “We also want people to remember that recovery can have its ups and downs — and that someone may have to try several times to stay in recovery but that they can do it.”
Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director of the Division of Public Health (DPH), noted that many people struggling with addiction often start with legal prescription medication due to an injury or surgery.
“As Delaware works with medical providers to further reduce the pipeline to pain medication abuse, it is vital that families, schools and community partners recognize the potential signs of addiction and urge their loved ones to seek treatment,” Rattay said. “It is also important that medical providers considering prescribing opioids follow the new state regulations, consider alternative approaches to pain management, and screen their patients for potential addiction.”
For information on the new state prescription regulations, visit http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/controlledsubstances/pmp/.
For those struggling with addiction either directly or with a loved one,
For Detox, treatment and recovery resources, visit www.helpisherede.com.
Delaware has seen a sharp increase in overdoses since 2014, largely driven by fentanyl, a substance that is 50 times more powerful than heroin.
In 2016, the Division of Forensic Science confirmed its presence in more than a third of that year’s 308 total fatal overdoses. In those 120 fentanyl-related deaths, fentanyl alone was confirmed in 51 cases, cocaine also was present in 48 cases, and heroin was confirmed in 37 of those cases. In 16 cases, heroin and cocaine were both confirmed.
