Delaware News

Overdose Review Commission releases 2023 annual report

Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Tuesday, September 17, 2024


Navy blue background featuring the Delaware state seal in the center
The Delaware Drug Overdose Fatality Review Commission (DOFRC) has released its third annual report to Governor John Carney and the General Assembly, announced Attorney General Kathy Jennings.
The report examines a sample of 148 cases from fatal overdoses that occurred in 2021, and includes data collected from death certificates, medical records, legal records, and treatment history.  The sample of fatalities examined includes cases from throughout Delaware. Within this sample, 60.5% of overdose deaths occurred in New Castle County, 21.1% in Kent County, and 18.4% in Sussex County.
“Every overdose fatality is not just a statistic, but a profound loss to our communities,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “Delaware’s battle against addiction is far from over, but the findings and recommendations in this report can light the way forward. We have a collective responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure that no more lives are lost to this disease. Together, we can build a better future.”
“We believe the recommendations outlined in this report are the necessary steps that must be taken to continue to make progress to end the opioid epidemic and save the lives of those Delawareans struggling with substance use disorders,” said DOFRC Chair, Erin Booker. “This work can’t be done independently and we look forward to working with stakeholders across the state to continue the fight against addiction as we strive to ensure the implementation of these recommendations.”
To continue strengthening Delaware’s fight to save lives and combat opioid addiction and overdoes, the commission made the following recommendations:
  • Fund and support expanded reentry efforts at the Delaware Department of Correction and community partners.
  • Create peer-support specialist positions for all Community Correction locations, assist with treatment for failed drug screens, assist in follow up on failed drug screens to navigate treatment options over violation of probation.
  • Promote community education for families and outreach services for witnesses to overdoses (both fatal and non-fatal), with high priority given to known drug users.
  • Create a coordinated, comprehensive, systemwide effort to address housing insecure, housing unstable, and unhoused individuals in Delaware.
  • Broaden efforts in Narcan and fentanyl test strip distribution.
Read the full report here.
The DOFRC was established to examine the facts and circumstances of deaths resulting from prescription opioid, fentanyl, and heroin overdoses and make evidence-based recommendations on to how to prevent future overdose deaths. The Commission is staffed by the Department of Justice and is required to report its findings on at least an annual basis.
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Overdose Review Commission releases 2023 annual report

Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Tuesday, September 17, 2024


Navy blue background featuring the Delaware state seal in the center
The Delaware Drug Overdose Fatality Review Commission (DOFRC) has released its third annual report to Governor John Carney and the General Assembly, announced Attorney General Kathy Jennings.
The report examines a sample of 148 cases from fatal overdoses that occurred in 2021, and includes data collected from death certificates, medical records, legal records, and treatment history.  The sample of fatalities examined includes cases from throughout Delaware. Within this sample, 60.5% of overdose deaths occurred in New Castle County, 21.1% in Kent County, and 18.4% in Sussex County.
“Every overdose fatality is not just a statistic, but a profound loss to our communities,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “Delaware’s battle against addiction is far from over, but the findings and recommendations in this report can light the way forward. We have a collective responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure that no more lives are lost to this disease. Together, we can build a better future.”
“We believe the recommendations outlined in this report are the necessary steps that must be taken to continue to make progress to end the opioid epidemic and save the lives of those Delawareans struggling with substance use disorders,” said DOFRC Chair, Erin Booker. “This work can’t be done independently and we look forward to working with stakeholders across the state to continue the fight against addiction as we strive to ensure the implementation of these recommendations.”
To continue strengthening Delaware’s fight to save lives and combat opioid addiction and overdoes, the commission made the following recommendations:
  • Fund and support expanded reentry efforts at the Delaware Department of Correction and community partners.
  • Create peer-support specialist positions for all Community Correction locations, assist with treatment for failed drug screens, assist in follow up on failed drug screens to navigate treatment options over violation of probation.
  • Promote community education for families and outreach services for witnesses to overdoses (both fatal and non-fatal), with high priority given to known drug users.
  • Create a coordinated, comprehensive, systemwide effort to address housing insecure, housing unstable, and unhoused individuals in Delaware.
  • Broaden efforts in Narcan and fentanyl test strip distribution.
Read the full report here.
The DOFRC was established to examine the facts and circumstances of deaths resulting from prescription opioid, fentanyl, and heroin overdoses and make evidence-based recommendations on to how to prevent future overdose deaths. The Commission is staffed by the Department of Justice and is required to report its findings on at least an annual basis.
image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.