DSAMH Announces Funding Availability to Address Rising Overdose Deaths Among Black, African American Communities

NEW CASTLE – The Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) announces the launch of the Health Equity Advancement Project, consisting of two funding opportunities that seek to develop strategies for addressing rising opioid overdose deaths among Black and African American communities in Delaware.

DSAMH will award eight mini grants as well as the opportunity to partner in local messaging campaigns/events to combat the stigma of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and treatment.

“Overdose deaths among African American/Black Delawareans rose from 22% to 29% between 2021 and 2022,” said DSAMH Director Joanna Champney. “We know that community-based organizations are the engines managing crises before people get to the hospital. That’s why it’s so critical for us to engage our community partners.”

The Health Equity Advancement Project focusses on understanding, engaging, and addressing the needs of racial and ethnic minorities with Opioid Use Disorder and/or Stimulant Use Disorder in Delaware. Eight organizations will be awarded $50,000 mini grants, which have an eleven-week implementation period from July 17, 2023, to Sept. 29, 2023.

The grants will concentrate on four identified areas: community needs assessment and/or health equity data analysis; implementation of culturally and linguistically appropriate standards; culturally specific stakeholder engagement strategies; and grassroots and community-based partnerships.

“This type of focus on health in Black and Brown communities in our state is crucial,” said Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Chair of the Delaware Behavioral Health Consortium. “Combatting health inequities takes a holistic, proactive approach, working with affected communities to drive strategies and solutions. In addition to helping us better understand what’s causing the spikes in opioid use among Black and Brown Delawareans, these grants will help us to tailor educational and awareness materials, reduce the stigma around substance use disorder and ultimately better support our Delawareans on their road to recovery.”

In addition to the mini grants, DSAMH also seeks partnerships with community organizations and leaders that are interested in conducting education/awareness campaigns and refining them with a special emphasis on underserved populations. The campaigns will focus on reducing stigma around substance use disorder and the use of medications for Opioid Use Disorders, promoting awareness of and access to substance use disorder treatment and recovery services, preventing SUD among youth and adults, promoting access to Narcan, and highlighting recovery stories.

The project will culminate in a Health Equity Summit held in September 2023 to highlight the emerging strategies, successes, and to workshop barriers between communities.

Those seeking more information or who may be interested in becoming a partner are encouraged to attend the project’s virtual Information Session scheduled for Monday, July 3, at 6:30 p.m. Advance registration is requested. Register at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUlf-GprDstHNX1Euk1ZPyjjDXWhQEzlD5d. A recording will also be made available after the session on the Addiction Treatment Resource Center (ATRC).

To learn more about the project and to apply for either the mini grant or to become a HEAP partner, visit ATRC.DHSS.Delaware.gov.


Delaware Officials Provide Latest Updates, Underscore Urgency Surrounding Youth, Opioids, and Prevention Programs

MILFORD (June 6, 2023) – Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long and leaders from the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Department of Education (DOE), and Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families (DSCYF) led a community response briefing on Friday to provide the latest information regarding the state’s efforts to address substance use among Delaware youth, and to highlight innovative educational and outreach programs taking place across the state in coordination with schools and community partners.

Organized by the DHSS Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, these quarterly briefings aim to inform the public about the State’s ongoing work to reduce overdoses and respond to the opioid epidemic.

“As a mom, nurse and professor, I want our kids to be on the best possible path. That path begins with prevention and engagement. I will continue to work with our state agencies, community advocates and partners to deliver a behavioral health system that works for everyone – that’s what our kids deserve,” said Delaware Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long and Chair of the Behavioral Health Consortium. “Today, we examined the numbers around youth substance use and prevention, and it’s so important to back up that data with action. A strong, healthy Delaware means everyone has the chance to be successful and follow their dreams and that starts with our kids.”

DOE Secretary Mark Holodick and DSCYF Secretary Josette D. Manning opened the event and underscored the need to assure the safety of Delaware youth.

“Our schools in Delaware have a unique opportunity to provide education to students and families about avoiding substance abuse. Students spend an average of 1,000 hours each year in school, so we know that schools need to be an active partner in helping our kids and their families navigate the changing landscape of substance abuse,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said.

Dr. Rochelle Brittingham, Associate Scientist for the Center for Drug & Health Studies at the University of Delaware shared data from the most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). While self-reported drug use among school-aged individuals has decreased in Delaware, attitudes about drug use are becoming more casual, which raises concerns, noted Dr. Brittingham. Only 56% of high schoolers think using prescription drugs without a prescription poses a great risk, while 37% believe it poses slight or moderate risk, and 7% believe it poses no risk at all, according to the YRBS in 2021.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that although middle school and high school aged youth in the U.S. reported using fewer illicit drugs in 2020, there was a 94% increase in overdose deaths from 2019 to 2020 among this age group and a 20% increase from 2020 to 2021.

DSCYF Secretary Manning pointed to the CDC statistic that shows median monthly overdose deaths among individuals aged 10 to 19 years old increased 109% from 2019 to 2021.

“The data is shocking,” DSCYF Secretary Josette D. Manning said. “We must take action to help our children. The best way for parents to safeguard their children is to educate themselves and to talk openly with their children about drugs and alcohol, long before they start experimenting with it.”

Despite reporting less illicit drug use among this population overall, the CDC points to the potency of the drugs as a major contributing factor to the increase in overdose deaths among youth. Approximately 90% of overdose deaths involved opioids, and 83.9% involved illicit manufactured fentanyl.

The Division of Public Health’s Chief Physician Dr. Michael Coletta underscored the need for the community to support adolescents and teens by implementing programs to prevent adverse childhood experiences. The Division of Public Health created the #MyReasonWhyDE social media campaign to provide teens a platform to share their reason to remain drug free and embrace a resilient mind frame.

Sabra Collins, education associate for physical education, health and wellness for the Delaware Department of Education provided updates regarding new regulations supporting substance use prevention education (referred to as Regulation 551), news about mental health literacy, and information on drug and alcohol training courses provided by the agency.

DSAMH Director Joanna Champney highlighted the Talk2KidsAboutDrugs toolkit. The toolkit can help inform parents, caregivers and educators about substance use and addiction risks among teens. The toolkit, available at HelpisHereDE.com, contains resources such as facts sheets, educational materials, and social media messaging that schools can implement to support drug and alcohol prevention. Parents and educators can find the full toolkit at www.helpisherede.com/talk-2-kids-about-drugs.

Tom Morrison, Family Services Program Administrator with DSCYF’s Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services advised parents to make their home as safe as possible by securing medication, safely disposing of medications, and to consider obtaining Narcan and training on when and how to use it if there are opioids or opioid users in the child’s life.

Peggy Geisler, Executive Director of the Sussex County Health Coalition, shared how her organization serves as a catalyst for state agencies, community-based organizations and health care providers to support a wide breadth of initiatives, programs, resourcing, and education for community-based issues concerning social determinants of health. The coalition’s campaign Delaware Goes Purple reaches 100,000 Delawareans and encourages them to stand up, to erase the stigma around addiction and support people who need it most.

“We know that young people’s brains are still developing well into their early 20’s, and education alone is not enough during years when impulse control is still developing. So providing meaningful activities for teens is crucial. The more we can build social safety nets around our teens, where they connect with caring adults and learn positive skills, the more we lower the risk of teens turning to unhealthy behaviors,” DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik said.

To help address behavioral health needs of Delawareans, DHSS has several ways for individuals or their family members to connect:

• Call the 24/7 Delaware Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE or 1-833-946-7333 – a single point of contact in which callers can connect to a variety of resources and information, including support from clinicians and peer specialists plus crisis assistance.

• Stop by one of DHSS’ Bridge Clinics for an in-person assessment.

• Visit TreatmentConnection.com to find out which treatment providers are located near you.

• Visit HelpIsHereDE.com, DHSS’ one-stop website where Delawareans can search for treatment services and resources in Delaware or nearby states.

• Call 988 if the individual is in crisis and needs immediate support.

• Call 911 if someone has overdosed and needs emergency medical attention.

• Learn where to find Narcan training, get the medication through the mail, and download the OpiRescueDE App here.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.


Suspected Overdose Deaths for November in Delaware Set Monthly High Total

Health Officials Fear Opioid Epidemic Has Not Plateaued

 

NEW CASTLE (Dec. 8, 2022) – In a heartbreaking sign that the opioid epidemic has not plateaued in Delaware, deaths from suspected overdoses in November set a new monthly high total, according to death investigation reports from the Division of Forensic Science.

In November 2022, 43 people died from suspected overdoses in Delaware. That surpasses the previous monthly high total of 42 set in May of this year. The 43 deaths included 21 people from New Castle County, 18 from Sussex County and four from Kent County.

Through Nov. 30, preliminary reports from the Division of Forensic Science show that 376 people have died from suspected overdoses in Delaware. That total is an 18% increase over a similar period in 2021. In 2021, Delaware reported 515 overdose deaths, with more than 80% involving the use of fentanyl, a synthetic pain reliever that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. November’s total of 43 deaths is about 50% higher than the average total deaths for the month of November, dating back to 2015.

“These deaths are heartbreaking for families across our state,” said Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik. “We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic will have long-term consequences for society, and behavioral health issues – including substance use disorder – is one of those consequences. The holiday season can add another layer of stress and anxiety to people’s lives, so we encourage Delawareans who need support – whether they are actively using substances or not – to reach out to talk with trained counselors, their own doctor, or another person they trust. At DHSS, we will continue to prioritize such harm-reduction strategies as training more loved ones to use Narcan, the medication that can reverse an opioid overdose, and helping more people get connected to the treatment they need to begin their recovery.”

To help address behavioral health needs of Delawareans, DHSS has several ways for individuals or their family members to connect:

  • Call the 24/7 Delaware Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE or 1-833-946-7333 – a single point of contact in which callers can connect to a variety of resources and information, including support from clinicians and peer specialists plus crisis assistance.
  • Stop by one of DHSS’ Bridge Clinics for an in-person assessment.
  • Visit TreatmentConnection.com to find out which treatment providers are located near you.
  • Visit HelpIsHereDE.com, DHSS’ one-stop website where Delawareans can search for treatment services and resources in Delaware or nearby states.
  • Call 988 if the individual is in crisis and needs immediate support.
  • Call 911 if someone has overdosed and needs emergency medical attention.
  • Learn where to find Narcan training, get the medication through the mail, and download the OpiRescueDE App here.

Joanna Champney, director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH), urged individuals in active substance use to consult with a medical provider immediately or call DHSS’ Delaware Hope Line to discuss treatment options. “Every day, we see the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on people’s lives,” Champney said. “Especially for those who are vulnerable, it has added stress to their lives, negatively impacted their mental health, and isolated them too often from services. Plus, we know the holidays are an additional stressor.”

“DSAMH is funding expansions of the continuum of care for substance use treatment services in each county,” Champney added. “We have increased our withdrawal management capacity by about 43% and our residential treatment by 22%. We have bolstered outpatient services by about 36% and our sober living recovery residences are up 3% overall. “For people who are uninsured or underinsured, the State will fund their treatment services. We’re also funding mobile treatment services and we have transportation services available. We want to reduce as many barriers to health care as possible.”

Champney encouraged anyone who is using substances or suffering from addiction to call for help, see a medical provider, or ask a police officer or another first responder for help. Family members can reach out on behalf of their loved ones, too. “Our first priority is to save lives,” she said.

Under Delaware’s 911/Good Samaritan Law, people who call 9-1-1 to report an overdose and the person in medical distress cannot be arrested for low-level drug crimes.

Interim Division of Public Health Director Dr. Rick Hong urged those in active use to get Narcan through one of DSAMH’s Bridge Clinics, at a participating pharmacy – where no prescription is required – or at a Narcan training session.

“Narcan saves lives,” Dr. Hong said. “We urge anyone who needs access to Narcan to go to a Bridge Clinic, a training class or distribution event, or to a participating pharmacy to buy the overdose-reversing medication. We also encourage Delawareans to download OpiRescue Delaware, a smartphone app that provides lifesaving step-by-step instructions on how to respond to an overdose, including administration of Narcan.”

To find the Bridge Clinic in your county, training or distribution events, or a participating pharmacy, go to HelpIsHereDE.com, and click on the overdose prevention tab.

In addition, Dr. Hong praised Brandywine Counseling and Community Services’ Syringe Services Program, which provides outreach statewide. Brandywine Counseling’s mobile sites offer Narcan, fentanyl testing strips, and syringe services, and have a positive track record of connecting people to care for substance use disorder.

The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health’s Bridge Clinic locations and hours:

NEW CASTLE COUNTY
DSAMH Central Office
14 Central Ave.
New Castle, DE 19720
24/7
302-255-1650

New Castle County Hope Center
365 Airport Road
New Castle, DE 19720
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Sat-Sun: 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
302-544-6815

KENT COUNTY
James W. Williams State Service Center
805 River Road, Third Floor
Dover, DE 19901
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
302-857-5060

SUSSEX COUNTY
Thurman Adams State Service Center
546 S. Bedford St.
Georgetown, DE 19947
Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
302-515-3310


DHSS’ Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to Host Free Monthly Naloxone Training Sessions Statewide

NEW CASTLE (March 3, 2022) – The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) is hosting free monthly Naloxone Access Training for all members of the community. All trainings can be found here: http://delaware-dsamh.eventbrite.com

Naloxone, known commonly by the brand-name Narcan, is a medication that is effective in reversing the effects of an opioid overdose in an individual. This is a free training and is open to the public. Participants will learn how to recognize and appropriately respond to an opioid overdose and are eligible to receive an Opioid Rescue Kit at the conclusion of their training. For more information, questions, or to schedule a group training, please email Narcan.train@delaware.gov or call 302-255-2777.

“Naloxone saves lives,” said DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik. “Until we can connect a person suffering from opioid use disorder to treatment, we will work with individuals, loved ones and concerned members of the community to make sure they are prepared to respond if an overdose does occur. We urge anyone who needs access to naloxone to attend one of these free training sessions, where they also will receive an Opioid Rescue Kit.”

Each training has two sessions available. The first session is a 30- to 45-minute classroom-style training in small groups with an informative presentation and plenty of time for practice and questions. This is the best option for all audiences. The second session is a Point of Distribution (POD)-style training event best for returning trainees, or those who have used their naloxone kit previously. The POD session is open for one hour, but participants should plan only for a 15-minute window to complete the training during this hour. Participants do NOT need to attend for the full hour of the POD session. At the completion of both training sessions, each participant is eligible to receive an Opioid Rescue Kit.

Trainings are currently being held monthly at the following venues, dates, and times. Due to ongoing and changing COVID-19 precautions, all attendees are asked to register via the EventBrite page to ensure compliance with state and facility/site restrictions. Available tickets through http://delaware-dsamh.eventbrite.com will be updated to reflect current capacity limitations at each location.

 

STARTING IN MARCH

Chapel on the DHSS Campus, 1901 North DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720
3rd Saturday of each month 11 a.m.-noon (training); noon-1 p.m. (POD)

Dover Public Library, 35 Loockerman Plaza, Dover, DE 19901
3rd Saturday of each month 2-3 p.m. (training); 3-4 p.m. (POD)
4th Thursday of each month 6-7 p.m. (training); 7-8 p.m. (POD)

Georgetown Public Library, 123 W. Pine St., Georgetown, DE 19947
1st Tuesday of each month 5-6 p.m. (training); 6-7: p.m. (POD)

Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave., Lewes, DE 19958
2nd Saturday of each month 1-2 p.m. (training); 2-3 p.m. (POD)

Shipley State Service Center, 350 Virginia Ave, Seaford, DE 19973
3rd Tuesday of each month 11 a.m.-noon (training); noon-1 p.m. (POD)

Ocean View Police Department Training Room, 201 Central Ave., Ocean View, DE 19970
4th Thursday of each month 2-3 p.m. (training); 3-4 p.m. (POD)

 

STARTING IN APRIL

Chapel on the DHSS Campus, 1901 North DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720
2nd Thursday of each month 11 a.m.-noon (training); noon-1 p.m. (POD)

Bear Library, 101 Governors Place, Bear, DE 19701
4th Monday of each month 5-6 p.m. (training); 6-7 p.m. (POD)

If you or a loved one is suffering from substance use disorder and need support, call DHSS’ 24/7 and confidential Delaware Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE (1-833-946-7333). A trained professional can offer a connection to treatment resources or services. For more information on overdose prevention, visit HelpIsHereDE.com.


Dover Health Care Provider Expands Behavioral Health Services for the LGBTQ Community

NEW CASTLE (Feb. 21, 2022) – A Dover primary care office is expanding behavioral health services for LGBTQ individuals thanks to federal grant funding. A Peaceful Place Integrated Care is using the grant to support the addition of a certified drug and alcohol counselor, a licensed clinical social worker, and a peer navigator to help treat patients with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health issues. The funds also support the use of telehealth to help patients continue accessing treatment.

A Peaceful Place is a minority-owned, woman-owned primary care office run by Ericka Daniel, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner. Daniel decided to open a practice that focuses on the unique needs of the LGBTQ population after she completed training in transgender health and non-binary gender education and realized there are few service providers with this specialized knowledge in Delaware.

“I would go to refer patients to LGBTQ-affirming health providers and realized there were hardly any,” Daniel said. “So, I decided to start my own practice.”

Daniel’s office provides primary care and wraparound behavioral health support services. Although she accepts all patients for primary health care, she seeks to create an environment that is especially LGBTQ-affirming. For example, the practice provides gender-affirming hormones for transgender individuals.

The practice also welcomes those who have substance use disorders and those diagnosed with hepatitis C. Daniel prescribes buprenorphine in both the oral and injectable forms, as well as naltrexone and vivitrol.

The Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) oversees the $37 million State Opioid Response (SOR) grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the source of the funding for A Peaceful Place. Rick Urey, Chief of Addiction Services at DSAMH, said that partnering with LGBTQ-friendly health care providers is critical to ensuring a pathway for all patients who need treatment for substance use disorders.

“We want anyone who needs treatment services to feel like they have places they can go where they are welcomed and respected,” Urey said. “Having an LGBTQ-friendly primary care office that also offers behavioral health services is a huge asset for our community. Not all health care providers understand how to prescribe medication for opiate use disorders, let alone how to integrate it with the specific health care needs of LGBTQ patients, especially those on hormone therapy.”

Daniel’s decision to integrate behavioral health services with primary care is driven by the frequent co-occurrence of mental health and substance use disorders in the LGBTQ community, as well as first-hand experience with her patients’ needs.

“LGBTQ patients have often suffered a series of traumatic experiences that can have a substantial effect on their physical and mental health,” Daniel said. “Due to perceptions about their lifestyle, it might have been separation, abandonment, and being ostracized by their faith communities. This causes a lot of trauma and people begin to self-medicate to numb that pain, which can lead to addiction and other risky behaviors.”

According to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, sexual minority adults are nearly twice as likely as their heterosexual counterparts to suffer from substance use disorder. Moreover, there were huge treatment gaps: less than 14% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults with SUD reported not receiving treatment during the 2019 survey. A recent study from the University of Pittsburgh found that nearly 1 in 10 gay/lesbian youth reported a history of heroin use compared to 4.1% of bisexual and 1.1% of heterosexual young people.

Some of the contributing factors to a higher prevalence of substance use among sexual minorities may include social exclusion, physical abuse, rejection by family or community, or other types of discrimination. A widely cited study from the University of Michigan found that LGB adults who have experienced multiple forms of discrimination are four times more likely to experience substance use disorder.

“I don’t want them to have to worry about facing rejection by another health care provider,” Daniel said. “It’s critical that they can have their needs met for their opiate use disorder and/or hormone replacement therapy in a setting that is respectful and nonjudgmental.”

Trust built over time is critical for developing the best health care plans with her patients. “Some patients initially try to hide their addiction from their primary care physician, but when they come to us, we take a holistic approach to talking about their health, and over time they become comfortable talking with me about more aspects of their health,” Daniel said.

When clients faced financial problems, Daniel has applied for the state’s Opioid Impact Fee Fund scholarships to ensure their recovery is not jeopardized. “I’ve used this fund for hotel stays and to pay for utilities for patients who were struggling financially,” she says. The fund, established through Senate Bill 34, was signed into law in 2019 and has been administered by DSAMH. Nearly 600 scholarships for housing, transportation, basic necessities, and other needs have been awarded to date to support the recovery of people with substance use disorders.

“This is a judgment-free zone,” Daniel said of A Peaceful Place. “Everyone has a messy life, so don’t let that stop you from coming in. We just want you to be healthy, to be well, to live how you want to live, according to your own yardstick.”

• • •

Learn more about health care services provided by A Peaceful Place at www.apeacefulplaceintegratedcare.com or by calling 302-264-9436.

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder, you are encouraged to call DHSS’ 24/7 free and confidential Delaware Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE or text CONNECT to 55753.

Funding for these initiatives is supplied by grant number 5H79TI083305-02 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of SAMHSA or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).