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Dr. Gibney with St. Francis is partnering with Brandywine Counseling to distribute free naloxone to homeless camps due to an increase in the number of overdose deaths.
Jennifer Corbett, Wilmington
Governor John Carney signed three bills to fight the opioid and heroin epidemic in Delaware Monday afternoon at New Castle County Headquarters. (Photo: Jerry Habraken, The News Journal)
The month of August marked Delaware's deadliest month for drug overdoses, reporting 39 lives in 31 days, according to the state's health department.
The month of August was the closest month of August, with the highest number of deaths in April.
The figures are a sad reality for the state, which responds daily to dozens of calls for drug overdose. On Monday, Governor John Carney implemented three different measures to combat the opioid epidemic and improve the response to drug overdoses.
"It is sometimes very difficult to stay encouraged and optimistic by thinking that we can do something to fight against this," said Representative David Bentz, pointing out the constant loss of life – about a person a day Heroin epidemic and opioids.
These new laws, one of which will create the first statewide overdose health care system, will give advocates and state leaders hope that the public health crisis can be brought under control. right here.
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DELAWARE DEADLY CRISIS
Fentanyl: What is it and why do dozens of dozens of Delawareans
On International Overdose Awareness Day, we remember that these Delaware lost
By prescribing fewer opioids, doctors hope to slow down the addiction epidemic
On Saturday, 202 people died this year of alleged drug overdoses, according to the state. But because of the six to eight week delay for toxicological analysis within the state's Division of Forensic Sciences, the number of deaths is probably much higher.
In perspective, the state lost 126 people in 2012 – the same year, Tyler Keister lost his life following an overdose.
"The number for this year could very well be four to five times higher, and that does not count the number of near misses overthrown by naloxone," said Don Keister, Tyler's father and founder of the association non-profit ATTAcK Addiction. "We need to provide a continuum of readily available care, an educational component that speaks to our children, from elementary school and public awareness that eliminates stigma."
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A founding member of the AtTAcK addiction, Don Keister, left, talks about the importance of bills signed by Governor John Carney on Monday at New Castle County Headquarters. (Photo: Jerry Habraken, The News Journal)
First responders particularly feel the burden, while calls continue to increase with the rise of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid considered to be 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin.
"It is heartbreaking and alarming to see so many lives lost in overdose suspicions," said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, secretary of the State Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday. "We suspect that many overdoses involved fentanyl, so we warn people who are active to assume that the illicit drugs they use contain this highly toxic and dangerous synthetic opioid."
"Despite the significant seizures of heroin and fentanyl made by law enforcement, we continue to see an increase in the presence of fentanyl and heroin throughout the state", said Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and Homeland Security, Robert Coupe.
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Emergency responders arrive on Thursday at 1300 block of West 4th Street for an overdose. (Photo: JOHN J. JANKOWSKI JR./SPECIAL THE NEWS JOURNAL)
In 2017, about 61% of overdose deaths in Delaware were fentanyl, according to official data.
Heroin and cocaine were also the main substances reported, two substances difficult to distinguish from street fentanyl.
In response to these overdose deaths, the state has committed to a care system similar to that of Delawareans who have suffered a stroke or trauma – a consistent plan that every physician and first-responder in the state will know and will be able to provide.
It has never been done elsewhere in the country and we still do not know how it will be done here, but Dr. Sandra Gibney, an emergency physician in St. Francis, is helping these efforts.
"Can you imagine if you had a heart attack or a stroke and the emergency room doctor gave you a single dose of aspirin and sent you home?" Gibney asked. "But every day in this state, in every hospital … a patient suffers from a lethal overdose, receives a single dose of Narcan (the trade name of naloxone) and is sent home."
By creating a health care system, the discharge from the hospital – and often the lack of care or the link with further treatment – will change completely, she said.
Doctors will have stabilization centers where they can send recently overdosed patients. There, counselors can put them in touch with experts to develop a treatment plan going forward.
In a room full of paramedics, first responders, doctors, lawyers and government officials, solutions to the opioid epidemic remained elusive – not just in Delaware, but across the border. national.
"If we can not do it with all these people here, then who can?" Carney asked Monday afternoon.
It is now up to the state to take action on this issue.
Where to get help for addiction
New Castle County hotline: 800-652-2929
Counties of Kent and Sussex hotline: 800-345-6785
PERSONAL STORIES WITH ADDICTION
Buried in her graduation prom dress, the Delaware woman is a victim of heroin seizures
The love of a father and three calm words saved the life of the Delaware woman
What heroin costs in Delaware – in life and in money
Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.
Read or share this story: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/heroindelaware/2018/09/11/delaware-sees-deadliest-month-yet-drug-overdoses/1254461002/
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