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In Another Likely Consequence of Pandemic, Delaware Overdose Deaths Increase 15% in 2021 – State of Delaware News
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Division of Forensic Science Annual Report Finds Fentanyl Nonetheless Concerned in Extra Than 80% of Deaths; Cocaine Hyperlink on the Rise
NEW CASTLE (Might 24, 2022) – In what well being officers concern is one other consequence of the uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Delaware’s overdose deaths elevated greater than 15% in 2021 to a file excessive 515, in keeping with the Delaware Division of Forensic Science’s annual report.
The Division of Forensic Science additionally reported 425 of the 515 deaths concerned fentanyl, an artificial ache reliever that’s 50-100 instances stronger than morphine. The share of whole overdose deaths in 2021 involving fentanyl (82.5%) declined seven-tenths of a share level from 2020. The DFS report discovered a considerable improve in overdose deaths that concerned cocaine, with the powerfully addictive stimulant present in 221 of the 515 people who died, a rise of virtually 9 share factors from 2020.
“Our worries in regards to the affect that COVID-19 would have on Delawareans already fighting substance use dysfunction seem like borne out by the Division of Forensic Science report on overdose deaths,” mentioned Division of Well being and Social Companies (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik. “At DHSS, we are going to proceed to prioritize such harm-reduction methods as coaching extra family members to make use of Narcan, the remedy that may reverse an opioid overdose, and to assist extra individuals in getting related to the remedy they should start their restoration.”
To assist Delawareans address stress and deal with behavioral well being wants through the coronavirus pandemic, DHSS’ Division of Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being launched the 24/7 Delaware Hope Line – a single level of contact the place callers can hook up with a wide range of assets and knowledge, together with help from clinicians and peer specialists plus disaster help. For help, Delawareans can:
- Attain the free Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE or 1-833-946-7333.
- Get behavioral well being ideas and reminders by texting DEHOPE to 55753.
- Seek for remedy providers and assets in Delaware or close by states at DHSS’ one-stop web site, HelpIsHereDE.com.
Joanna Champney, director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being (DSAMH), urged people in lively substance use to seek the advice of with a medical supplier instantly or to name the Delaware Hope Line to be related to educated disaster professionals who can talk about remedy choices. “The COVID-19 pandemic elevated stress in individuals’s lives, negatively impacted psychological well being, and remoted individuals from providers,” she mentioned. “Coupled with the provision of unlawful fentanyl, this created a really harmful state of affairs.”
“DSAMH is funding expansions of the continuum of look after substance use remedy providers in every county – from withdrawal administration to residential remedy, from outpatient remedy to sober residing restoration residences,” Champney added. “For people who find themselves uninsured or underinsured, the State will fund their remedy providers. We’re additionally funding cellular remedy providers and now we have transportation providers accessible. We wish to cut back as many obstacles to well being care as potential.”
In its annual report for 2021, the Division of Forensic Science reported 515 overdose deaths, a rise of 15.2% over the 447 deaths reported in 2020. The 515 deaths by county:
- New Fortress County: 334
- Sussex County: 94
- Kent County: 87
Of the 515 whole deaths, 348 concerned males (68%) and 167 concerned females (32%). By race and ethnicity, 72% of the people who died had been white (372); 24% had been Black (122); 4% had been Hispanic (20); and 1 was Asian.
The age class with the very best variety of deaths was 31-40 with 144 (28%). The remaining age teams ranked by variety of deaths:
- 41-50: 128 deaths (24.9%)
- 51-60: 115 deaths (22.3%)
- 61 or older: 64 deaths (12.4%)
- 21-30: 60 deaths (11.7%)
- 10-20: 2 deaths (0.4%)
Champney inspired anybody who’s utilizing substances or affected by dependancy to name for assist, see a medical supplier, or ask a police officer or one other first responder for assist. “Too many instances, our law enforcement officials, EMTs and different first responders see first-hand the risks of overdoses,” she mentioned. “Our first precedence is to avoid wasting lives. Should you or somebody you understand is able to get assist, we invite you to stroll into one among our Bridge Clinics for an evaluation, or go to TreatmentConnection.com to seek out out which remedy suppliers are situated close to you.”
Below Delaware’s 911/Good Samaritan Legislation, individuals who name 9-1-1 to report an overdose and the particular person in medical misery can’t be arrested for low-level drug crimes.
Division of Public Well being (DPH) Director Dr. Karyl Rattay urged these in lively use to acquire Narcan, which is on the market via many sources together with at collaborating pharmacies – the place no prescription is required – at a DSAMH bridge clinic, throughout a Narcan coaching session, or via DPH’s Mail Order Naloxone program. The mail order program is free and accessible to anybody with a mailing deal with in Delaware requesting it as a non-public citizen via https://nextdistro.org/delaware
“Narcan saves lives,” Dr. Rattay mentioned. “We urge anybody who’s actively utilizing illicit substances, in addition to their household and mates, to have Narcan available, and be educated in how one can use the overdose-reversing remedy. Moreover, we encourage Delawareans to obtain OpiRescue Delaware, a smartphone app that gives lifesaving step-by-step directions on how to answer an overdose, together with administering Narcan.”
To seek out coaching or distribution occasions, a collaborating pharmacy, or the Bridge Clinic in your county, go to HelpIsHereDE.com, and click on on the overdose prevention tab.
As well as, Dr. Rattay praised Brandywine Counseling and Neighborhood Companies’ Syringe Companies Program, which gives outreach statewide. Brandywine Counseling’s cellular websites provide Narcan, fentanyl testing strips, and syringe providers, and have a constructive observe file of connecting individuals to look after substance use dysfunction.
The Division of Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being’s Bridge Clinic places and hours:
NEW CASTLE COUNTY
DSAMH Central Workplace
14 Central Ave.
New Fortress, DE 19720
24/7
302-255-1650
New Fortress County Hope Heart
365 Airport Street
New Fortress, DE 19720
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Sat-Solar: 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
302-544-6815
KENT COUNTY
James W. Williams State Service Heart
805 River Street, Third Flooring
Dover, DE 19901
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
302-857-5060
SUSSEX COUNTY
Thurman Adams State Service Heart
546 S. Bedford St.
Georgetown, DE 19947
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
302-515-3310
Associated Subjects: Habit, Delaware Hope Line, DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik, HelpIsHere, substance use dysfunction
Preserve updated by receiving a every day digest e mail, round midday, of present information launch posts from state businesses on information.delaware.gov.
Right here you’ll be able to subscribe to future information updates.
Division of Forensic Science Annual Report Finds Fentanyl Nonetheless Concerned in Extra Than 80% of Deaths; Cocaine Hyperlink on the Rise
NEW CASTLE (Might 24, 2022) – In what well being officers concern is one other consequence of the uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Delaware’s overdose deaths elevated greater than 15% in 2021 to a file excessive 515, in keeping with the Delaware Division of Forensic Science’s annual report.
The Division of Forensic Science additionally reported 425 of the 515 deaths concerned fentanyl, an artificial ache reliever that’s 50-100 instances stronger than morphine. The share of whole overdose deaths in 2021 involving fentanyl (82.5%) declined seven-tenths of a share level from 2020. The DFS report discovered a considerable improve in overdose deaths that concerned cocaine, with the powerfully addictive stimulant present in 221 of the 515 people who died, a rise of virtually 9 share factors from 2020.
“Our worries in regards to the affect that COVID-19 would have on Delawareans already fighting substance use dysfunction seem like borne out by the Division of Forensic Science report on overdose deaths,” mentioned Division of Well being and Social Companies (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik. “At DHSS, we are going to proceed to prioritize such harm-reduction methods as coaching extra family members to make use of Narcan, the remedy that may reverse an opioid overdose, and to assist extra individuals in getting related to the remedy they should start their restoration.”
To assist Delawareans address stress and deal with behavioral well being wants through the coronavirus pandemic, DHSS’ Division of Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being launched the 24/7 Delaware Hope Line – a single level of contact the place callers can hook up with a wide range of assets and knowledge, together with help from clinicians and peer specialists plus disaster help. For help, Delawareans can:
- Attain the free Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE or 1-833-946-7333.
- Get behavioral well being ideas and reminders by texting DEHOPE to 55753.
- Seek for remedy providers and assets in Delaware or close by states at DHSS’ one-stop web site, HelpIsHereDE.com.
Joanna Champney, director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being (DSAMH), urged people in lively substance use to seek the advice of with a medical supplier instantly or to name the Delaware Hope Line to be related to educated disaster professionals who can talk about remedy choices. “The COVID-19 pandemic elevated stress in individuals’s lives, negatively impacted psychological well being, and remoted individuals from providers,” she mentioned. “Coupled with the provision of unlawful fentanyl, this created a really harmful state of affairs.”
“DSAMH is funding expansions of the continuum of look after substance use remedy providers in every county – from withdrawal administration to residential remedy, from outpatient remedy to sober residing restoration residences,” Champney added. “For people who find themselves uninsured or underinsured, the State will fund their remedy providers. We’re additionally funding cellular remedy providers and now we have transportation providers accessible. We wish to cut back as many obstacles to well being care as potential.”
In its annual report for 2021, the Division of Forensic Science reported 515 overdose deaths, a rise of 15.2% over the 447 deaths reported in 2020. The 515 deaths by county:
- New Fortress County: 334
- Sussex County: 94
- Kent County: 87
Of the 515 whole deaths, 348 concerned males (68%) and 167 concerned females (32%). By race and ethnicity, 72% of the people who died had been white (372); 24% had been Black (122); 4% had been Hispanic (20); and 1 was Asian.
The age class with the very best variety of deaths was 31-40 with 144 (28%). The remaining age teams ranked by variety of deaths:
- 41-50: 128 deaths (24.9%)
- 51-60: 115 deaths (22.3%)
- 61 or older: 64 deaths (12.4%)
- 21-30: 60 deaths (11.7%)
- 10-20: 2 deaths (0.4%)
Champney inspired anybody who’s utilizing substances or affected by dependancy to name for assist, see a medical supplier, or ask a police officer or one other first responder for assist. “Too many instances, our law enforcement officials, EMTs and different first responders see first-hand the risks of overdoses,” she mentioned. “Our first precedence is to avoid wasting lives. Should you or somebody you understand is able to get assist, we invite you to stroll into one among our Bridge Clinics for an evaluation, or go to TreatmentConnection.com to seek out out which remedy suppliers are situated close to you.”
Below Delaware’s 911/Good Samaritan Legislation, individuals who name 9-1-1 to report an overdose and the particular person in medical misery can’t be arrested for low-level drug crimes.
Division of Public Well being (DPH) Director Dr. Karyl Rattay urged these in lively use to acquire Narcan, which is on the market via many sources together with at collaborating pharmacies – the place no prescription is required – at a DSAMH bridge clinic, throughout a Narcan coaching session, or via DPH’s Mail Order Naloxone program. The mail order program is free and accessible to anybody with a mailing deal with in Delaware requesting it as a non-public citizen via https://nextdistro.org/delaware
“Narcan saves lives,” Dr. Rattay mentioned. “We urge anybody who’s actively utilizing illicit substances, in addition to their household and mates, to have Narcan available, and be educated in how one can use the overdose-reversing remedy. Moreover, we encourage Delawareans to obtain OpiRescue Delaware, a smartphone app that gives lifesaving step-by-step directions on how to answer an overdose, together with administering Narcan.”
To seek out coaching or distribution occasions, a collaborating pharmacy, or the Bridge Clinic in your county, go to HelpIsHereDE.com, and click on on the overdose prevention tab.
As well as, Dr. Rattay praised Brandywine Counseling and Neighborhood Companies’ Syringe Companies Program, which gives outreach statewide. Brandywine Counseling’s cellular websites provide Narcan, fentanyl testing strips, and syringe providers, and have a constructive observe file of connecting individuals to look after substance use dysfunction.
The Division of Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being’s Bridge Clinic places and hours:
NEW CASTLE COUNTY
DSAMH Central Workplace
14 Central Ave.
New Fortress, DE 19720
24/7
302-255-1650
New Fortress County Hope Heart
365 Airport Street
New Fortress, DE 19720
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Sat-Solar: 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
302-544-6815
KENT COUNTY
James W. Williams State Service Heart
805 River Street, Third Flooring
Dover, DE 19901
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
302-857-5060
SUSSEX COUNTY
Thurman Adams State Service Heart
546 S. Bedford St.
Georgetown, DE 19947
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
302-515-3310
Associated Subjects: Habit, Delaware Hope Line, DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik, HelpIsHere, substance use dysfunction
Preserve updated by receiving a every day digest e mail, round midday, of present information launch posts from state businesses on information.delaware.gov.
Right here you’ll be able to subscribe to future information updates.