LAUREL – Governor Jack Markell and other state and local officials announced their visions and support for “Sussex Outdoors,” a southern Delaware initiative that seeks to get families and children outdoors for physical activity and to create healthy lifestyles, at a summit on Thursday at Trapp Pond State Park. Attendees heard from national experts, state leaders, and outdoors and health organizations about strategies and opportunities for encouraging families to be more active outdoors.

Governor Markell, a nationally-recognized speaker on the importance of outdoor activity and honorary chair of Sussex Outdoors, announced his vision for a proposed trails and pathways plan to be developed through a collaborative effort of two state agencies, DNREC and DelDOT.

“These proposed projects will expand trail networks or begin trail networks, inside and outside of state parks in all three counties,” said Governor Markell. “They will help us realize a truly walkable, bikeable Delaware that all Delawareans can use and enjoy. Our continued commitment to invest in outdoor opportunities, both financially and through the efforts of community/government partnerships such as ‘Sussex Outdoors,’ will help us ensure the quality of life Delawareans deserve. By working together, we improve the health and wellbeing of our state’s children and stimulate job growth through investment in infrastructure at the same time.”

John Hollis, Sussex County Manager of Nemours Health and Prevention Services, one of the sponsors of the event, challenged summit attendees: “Sussex County has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control as one of 40 communities nationally that will focus on the lifestyle changes that will be healthier both physically and emotionally.”

Other sponsors of the summit were the Sussex County Council, Sussex County Health Promotion Coalition, Sanofi Aventis, and Bike Delaware. “Sussex Outdoors” is a partnership of DNREC Sussex County Council, Sussex Child Health Promotion Coalition, and Nemours Health and Prevention Services.

In addition to DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara, state Agriculture Secretary Ed Kee and DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf, speakers promoting outdoor physical activity included Mark Fenton, one of the nation’s foremost experts on walking and host of the new PBS series, America’s Walking; Rich Killingsworth, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer for the National Foundation on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, and innovator of the Active Living by Design program.

All speakers emphasized the connection between sedentary lifestyles and poor health, and contrasted that with the link between physical activity and good health.

Attendees participated in workshops that included such topics as an overview of Sussex trails and current opportunities presented by Delaware State Parks, Sussex Master Planning and the Sussex Land Trust.

Keynote speakers issued a call of action challenging each leader to encourage active outdoor activity wherever and with whomever they may come in contact with. “We passed along to everyone the importance of engaging in active outside activity, wherever that may be,” Hollis continued. “We want this call to action to go viral at the community and state level for everyone to get out and enjoy the outdoors.”

Delaware was awarded a $506,000 three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help prevent chronic diseases and promote health.

The state Division of Public Health (DPH) will use the funds for programs to reduce diabetes, heart disease and chronic disease risk factors. Funded by the Affordable Care Act, the grant is part of approximately $40 million provided nationwide. Chronic diseases are responsible for 7 out of 10 deaths among Americans each year, according to HHS, and they account for nearly three-fourths of the more than $2.5 trillion our nation spends annually on medical care.

“Many chronic diseases are preventable. We want to be doing everything we can to help Delawareans lead healthier lives,” said Governor Jack Markell. “Wellness makes for a better quality of life, a stronger workforce, and it lowers health care costs.”

DPH’s grant will provide expansion of the Stanford Universities Diabetes Self-Management and Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs. A third community evidence-based program will focus on the primary prevention of chronic disease such as diabetes and heart disease . Other interventions include the creation of a chronic disease and health promotion advocate program and social marketing to the public and health care providers to increase awareness about chronic diseases and their risk factors.

“Many chronic diseases share risk factors and can be addressed by the same strategies and lifestyle changes,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, DPH director. “Helping Delawareans so they can eat healthy, be physically active and obtain health screenings will prevent disease and death and reduce health care costs.”

Governor Jack Markell announced at a news conference today that Delaware has banned the dangerous stimulants commonly known “bath salts” now making them illegal in Delaware.

Early this afternoon, Secretary of State Jeff Bullock signed an “emergency rule” adding the compound of drugs known as “bath salts” to Delaware’s Schedule I of Controlled substances, following a recommendation by the Controlled Substances Advisory Committee. The order will be in effect for 120 days, with a 60-day extension possible. That gives the Delaware General Assembly, which re-convenes in January 2012, enough time to pass legislation banning the drugs permanently.

Today’s action empowers state law enforcement agencies to treat bath salts the same as other harmful illegal drugs, which means those who possess and, more importantly, those who sell bath salts will now face criminal penalties.

“These are not what people traditionally think of as bath salts that are added to a bath. This is a new designer drug sold in small vials or tins. People are getting sick, suicidal and very, very violent. These drugs are nasty and dangerous,” said the Governor. “If you know someone who has been abusing ‘bath salts,’ get them help,” said Governor Markell. “If you have the drug in your home or business, take it to the nearest Delaware State Police Troop and turn it in.”

“We are taking the unprecedented action of banning these drugs using a little known, but very powerful law, to immediately make them illegal to sell or possess,” said Secretary Bullock. “It’s an action we shouldn’t take lightly, but given the growing danger these drugs pose to our community, it is an action we need to take without delay.”

The Delaware Attorney General’s Office says two drug-related crimes are now applicable for bath salts: (Simple) Possession, which is a Misdemeanor level crime and Possession with the Intent to Distribute, which is a Felony level crime. The baseline Possession with the Intent to Distribute charge carries a sentencing range of 0-8 years in prison, and the seriousness of the charge and the corresponding sentencing range increases when aggravating factors are present such as prior offenses, resisting arrest, or committing a drug crime near a school or park – in certain cases this charge can carry minimum mandatory jail time.

“We’re working collaboratively with our law enforcement partners to quickly develop a game plan to enforce this ban and take specific action to ensure that these dangerous drugs are kept off the streets,” said Brian Robertson, Deputy Attorney General.

Sen. Bethany Hall-Long, D-Middletown is currently developing legislation that will be introduced when the General Assembly returns in January.

“This designer drug became an issue in my district and I’ve been working with various stakeholders to develop legislation allowing us to make bath salts controlled substance as well as working with families on finding treatment options,” Hall-Long said. ”As a nurse I am all too aware of the negative consequence this has on our public’s health and the injuries to patients who have used bath salts as well as their violent acts against nurses, police and other first responders”.

An emergency room nurse at Christiana Hospital, Rep. Rebecca Walker has seen the effects bath salts have had on people and is working with the Attorney General’s office to draft legislation permanently banning the substance.

“This phenomenon has popped up in the last few months and now it’s become a daily problem in all three counties,” said Rep. Walker, D-Middletown. “People have presented to all the emergency departments in the state under the influence of these bath salts and are so out-of-control and violent that they’ve injured nurses and EMS providers, making it difficult to provide the necessary treatment. My biggest concern is for members of the community who may be violently attacked. We can’t wait until January to address this. Banning this substance is the right thing to do, and I’m grateful to everyone for taking action today.”

Marketed under names such as “Ivory Wave”, “Purple Wave”, “Vanilla Sky” or “Bliss”, these products are comprised of a class of chemicals which can mimic the effects of cocaine, LSD, MDMA and/or methamphetamine. The chemicals used to produce “bath salts” – mephedrone, methylone, and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) –have a high potential for abuse. The Federal Food and Drug Administration has not approved these chemicals for human consumption or for any medical use, and there is no oversight of their manufacture.

Related links:

• Emergency Rule Adoption Placing Mephedrone, Methylone, and MDPV In Schedule One Recommendation (PDF)
• Emergency Rule Adoption Placing Mephedrone, Methylone, and MDPV In Schedule One Final Order (PDF)

DOVER – Governor Jack Markell announced today the state will be moving to ban the dangerous stimulants commonly known “bath salts” to make them illegal in Delaware as soon as tomorrow.

The Controlled Substances Advisory Committee will hold an emergency meeting Friday, September 30, at the request of the Secretary of State, who seeks to exercise his authority to issue an immediate ban on the drugs. Title 16, Section 4713, states the Secretary of State shall place a substance in Schedule I if that substance has high potential for abuse and has no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or lacks accepted safety for use in treatment under medical supervision.

Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock will be taking an unprecedented step to immediately ban these substances for presenting a clear danger to the public. He plans to exercise his emergency authority to ban three synthetic chemical compounds used to produce “bath salts.” Marketed under names such as “Ivory Wave”, “Purple Wave”, “Vanilla Sky” or “Bliss”, these products are comprised of a class of chemicals which can mimic the effects of cocaine, LSD, MDMA and/or methamphetamine.

“We have every reason to make these drugs illegal,” said Governor Jack Markell. “These drugs present a danger to public safety. They have no legitimate use and can cause incredible damage to the lives of the user and those around the user. Criminalizing the sale and possession of these designer drugs will hopefully reverse their rising popularity and get them out of the hands of potential abusers.”

This action will empower state law enforcement agencies to treat bath salts the same as other harmful illegal drugs, which means those who possess and, more importantly, those who sell bath salts will now face criminal penalties.

“Getting these dangerous substances out of stores and off the streets will make Delaware a safer place,” said Attorney General Beau Biden. “Bath salts are dangerous drugs that have no place in our communities.”

Bath salts have become increasingly popular, particularly among teens and young adults, and are sold at places like tobacco shops, gas stations and head shops. The drug can also be bought on the internet. The federal Food and Drug Administration has not approved these chemicals for human consumption or for medical use, and there is no oversight of their manufacture.

Recently discovered data on three of the chemicals used to produce “bath salts” – mephedrone, methylone, and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) – demonstrate that they have a high potential for abuse and currently have no accepted medical use in the United States.

Often smoked, snorted or injected, bath salts can cause impaired perception, hallucinations, reduced motor control, chest pains, disorientation, extreme paranoia, agitation, and violent episodes. They are also believed to have led to numerous suicides.

The Controlled Substances Advisory Committee meeting will take place at 1 p.m. at the Carvel State Office Building, Wilmington, 10th floor. Following the meeting, a news conference will be held at 2:00 p.m. in the Governor’s Office, 12th floor, with the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General Beau Biden.

Delaware was awarded a $2.9 million competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Sept. 22 to help at-risk families voluntarily receive home visits to improve maternal and child health. The state Division of Public Health’s Family Health Section will use the funds to support the development of a comprehensive early childhood system that addresses health and development from the prenatal period through age 8, reaching high-risk and hard-to-engage populations including rural communities. As part of the federal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program, this first-time grant is funded by the Affordable Care Act and was awarded to only 13 states.

“Helping children succeed in school and in business begins early and at home,” said Governor Jack Markell. “This grant will enable us to reach at risk children in their own homes providing resources that will help them build a critical foundation for their future. By helping children in their earliest years, we significantly increase their chances of success later on in life.”

DPH will build upon four existing home-visiting programs; Smart Start, the Nurse-Family Partnership, Parents as Teachers and Early Head Start. This will involve recruiting home visitors who can serve as health navigators in Wilmington and in southern Delaware.

“The use of community health workers is documented as a method to enhance health education with high-risk and underserved populations,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, DPH director. “This facilitates a culturally competent approach to serving families.”

For more information on the Smart Start program, go to http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/chs/chssmartstart.html

For more information on DPH’s maternal and child health programs, go to http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/chca/dphmchhome.html

For more information on HRSA’s MIECHV program, please visit mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/homevisiting/.