NEW CASTLE (Feb. 23, 2021) – The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services invites medical providers and practice managers in primary care, women’s health, infectious disease and psychiatry to participate in a program that will train providers to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) among Medicaid recipients. Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) involves prescribing safe, effective, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications, especially buprenorphine, to treat OUD in primary care and other outpatient settings.

The Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) Fellowship Program helps practices design and implement clinical and operational workflows to use medications to treat OUD. The fellowship runs from March 23 through Sept. 23 via webinars and discussion groups. It will enable participating prescribers and clinic practice managers to:

• Learn from addiction medicine experts
• Exchange ideas through a peer network
• Receive technical assistance to offer Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT)
• Learn about the available Medicaid financing mechanisms for OBOT
• Gain access to a curated online library of tools and evidence-based practices

The program – supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through a $3.58 million grant awarded to the state – provides $3,000 for clinical providers and $2,000 for practice managers in primary care, women’s health, infectious disease and psychiatric outpatient settings.

Delaware’s Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health will also offer up to $49,000 for practices represented in the OBOT Fellowship Program that agree to implement office-based opioid treatment and meet performance metrics.

“Opioid addiction is an ongoing and often deadly presence for many Delawareans and their families, and we need every tool at our disposal to help them confront it,” said Gov. John Carney. “Equipping our medical providers to manage the treatment of these patients is an important part of this effort.”

Designed to accommodate participants’ schedules, the training will be given in two phases. Phase 1, lasting four weeks, features self-paced modules and weekly discussion groups. Phase 2 runs from late April to late September and consists of biweekly interactive webinars.

“This training will help clinicians and practice managers provide ‘whole person’ care for people with opioid use disorder,” said DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik. “This should lead to greater access to treatment and better physical health outcomes for these patients.”

Outpatient providers, including primary care doctors, develop relationships with patients and communities that position them to bring opioid use disorder treatment to many people who need it, said Dr. Elizabeth Brown, Chief Medical Officer for the state’s Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance. “However,” she added, “most health care providers didn’t receive adequate training in school to feel comfortable providing medications for OUD. This fellowship opportunity is a way to get providers up to speed on the latest treatment approaches and give them tools to feel confident in providing OUD treatment in their offices. We have medications that are safe and effective at treating OUD, and we want to maximize the number of providers who can use them.”

More information, including how to register, is available at the Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance website or by contacting SupportAct@delaware.gov or 304-663-1171.

As of 2019, Delaware had the second-highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the country, with 48 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were 431 overdose deaths in the state that year, according to the Delaware Drug Overdose Fatality Review Commission’s 2020 Annual Report. That was up from 400 in 2018. As of mid-February, there were 47 suspected overdose deaths in Delaware so far this year.

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder, please call DHSS’ Delaware Hope Line to be connected to trained crisis professionals who can discuss treatment options at 1-833-9-HOPEDE (1-833-946-7333). Individuals and families also can visit DHSS’ website, www.HelpIsHereDE.com, to find addiction treatment and recovery services in Delaware or nearby states.

The Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) Fellowship Program is the state’s latest effort to tackle the opioid addiction crisis in Delaware. In late December, the Department of Health and Social Services announced that revenue from a new opioid impact fee created by the Delaware General Assembly in 2019 will be used to prevent overdose deaths and provide new services to those seeking treatment for their substance use disorder.

The department announced plans to spend the first $700,000 that had been raised by the fee as of the third quarter of 2020, as required by Senate Bill 34. Those funds will be used to bolster Delaware’s supply of naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose; support the expansion of Bridge Clinic services in all three counties; and provide grants to people in treatment or recovery for such needs as transportation, housing, or education.

DOVER, DE (DEC. 11, 2020) – The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services’ (DHSS) Division of Public Health (DPH) announced Friday that Delawareans struggling with addiction can now order free naloxone by mail. Increasing access to naloxone is critical to preventing overdose deaths as more people are struggling with anxiety, depression, and financial stress stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Receiving in-person support and treatment is more challenging due to social distancing, which prevents meeting at in-person support groups.

Mail-order naloxone is available through a Memorandum of Understanding between DHSS and the New York-based harm-reduction nonprofit NEXT Distro. NEXT Distro operates in 35 states and has distributed free naloxone to 16,000 households in the United States since 2018. The life-saving medication, also known by its brand name Narcan, can reverse opioid drug overdoses by restoring someone’s breathing that has become suppressed from an overdose.

“DPH’s agreement with NEXT Distro could not come at a better time,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “Delaware is experiencing a simultaneous increase in COVID-19 cases and drug overdose deaths. Those who need naloxone the most can now order it privately and conveniently, avoiding any stigma that could be a barrier to accessing the life-saving medication. Holding outside distribution events is also becoming more challenging because of the cold weather, making this an ideal option to get naloxone in the hands of those who need it the most.”

A total of 316 suspected overdose deaths have occurred through early December this year in Delaware, which is higher than the number of suspected overdose deaths for the same period in 2019, according to preliminary data from the Delaware Division of Forensic Science (DFS). Since overdose deaths typically spike in December, that number is expected to grow. In 2019, 431 people died from drug overdoses in Delaware, according to DFS.

“We know that the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult for all of us mentally and emotionally, but none more so than Delawareans struggling with addiction, mental illness or both,” said DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik. “Because the holidays can add to that existing stress level and may be a trigger point for people with substance use disorder, this new initiative is coming at a particularly critical time. Families in our state can best help their struggling loved ones by ordering naloxone and connecting them to treatment.”

According to the Delaware Overdose Fatality Commission 2018 Annual Report, 79 percent of the overdoses studied occurred in a residence, and naloxone was not available 93 percent of the time. Through a statewide campaign that launches in January, DPH’s Office of Health Crisis Response (OHCR) reminds people that with Narcan they have “The Power to Save a Life.” The campaign encourages Delawareans to save lives by having Narcan available and to download the free OpiRescue DE app on their Apple or Android smartphones for step-by-step instructions on its use. Delawareans will soon see and hear ads on the radio, in bus shelters, on social media, and on gaming apps.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, so does the opioid epidemic,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “Putting naloxone directly into the hands of Delawareans is another tool for families, friends and employers to help those who are battling substance use disorder. Delivering it to their front door will save lives. No question. Thank you to the partners who are making this happen.”

Delawareans who want to place a mail order for naloxone should visit the “Overdose Prevention” page on HelpIsHereDE.com and access NEXT Distro’s Delaware program. Customers must watch a video, take a short quiz, and complete a request form. DPH will receive the request from NEXT Distro’s virtual platform and will mail individuals free naloxone. People will receive their naloxone within a few days. All contact information will be kept confidential.

Delawareans can still obtain Narcan or naloxone without a prescription at pharmacies, and Narcan at overdose prevention trainings and naloxone distribution events. Since January 2020, community partners hosted 80 such events, 62 of which were held car-side after COVID-19 emerged as a health crisis in the spring. During the first three quarters of 2020, OHCR’s Community-based Naloxone Access program distributed 6,263 naloxone kits through its community partners, including Community Response Teams in each county.

For more information about mail-order naloxone, Narcan, OpiRescue DE, or virtual resources designed to help those struggling with addiction, visit HelpIsHereDE.com.

The website offers information on virtual support groups, a searchable real-time database on treatment options and availability, and free counseling via the 24/7 Delaware Hope Line. HelpIsHereDe.com also provides directions for the disposal of unused prescriptions and a list of 28 prescription drop boxes available throughout the state. Visitors can also find prevention information including Narcan and the OpiRescue DE app. A HelpisHereDE.com awareness campaign began this month and will run throughout the year on billboards, radio, and social media; in bus shelters; and at 39 grocery stores and pharmacies statewide.

During addiction or mental health emergencies, call DHSS’ 24/7 Delaware Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE. For an in-depth study of overdose deaths in Delaware for 2017, read DPH’s Drug Overdose Mortality Surveillance Report.

###

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware’s Department of 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. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, drink almost no sugary beverages.

Commissioner Navarro to provide Naloxone kits and training at event

Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro, in collaboration with Public Health’s Kent County Community Response Team, the First Presbyterian Church of Smyrna, and the Smyrna-Clayton Ministerium will provide free training and opioid rescue kits to residents on Wednesday, October 14 from 2:00 to 5:00PM. The event, taking place outdoors at the First Presbyterian Church of Smyrna, 118 W. Commerce St. will offer both drive-through and walk up options in order to maintain social distancing.

“Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we can’t forget about the opioid epidemic. Addiction has its grip on our community, and with this event and others, we can make sure that Naloxone gets to individuals and families who may need it during an opioid overdose emergency” said Commissioner Navarro. “While we continue to work to ensure that treatment for those with drug dependencies is affordable and accessible, events like these offer an opportunity to increase awareness and education life-saving techniques and tools.”

Attendees will spend roughly ten minutes being trained to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose emergency, as well as learning about local treatment and support resources. Opioid Rescue Kits, each containing two doses of Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication, will be distributed. Residents who are at risk of experiencing and overdose, or individuals whose loved ones may be at risk, are strongly encouraged to attend.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse, do not wait, find help today. The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health launched the 24/7 Hope line to serve as a single point of contact for resources, info, clinical and peer support, and crisis assistance. Call 1-833-9-HOPEDE or visit HelpisHereDE.com.

Any residents having problems obtaining insurance approval for treatment or prescriptions related to substance abuse or mental health needs, contact the Delaware Department of Insurance’s Consumer Services Division by emailing consumer@delaware.gov or calling (302) 674-7300.

Event attendees and media representatives must observe social distancing and wear a face covering.

NOTE TO MEDIA: If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Christina.Haas@Delaware.gov.

Will provide Naloxone kits and training at Seaford event

Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro, the Town of Seaford, and Aquila Behavioral Health of Delaware have joined forces to deliver life-saving overdose reversal medication to residents on July 27 from 4:00 to 6:00PM at Williams Pond Park. Free opioid rescue kits provided by the Division of Public Health, will be distributed car-side to attendees along with trainings of how the product should be used. Each kit has two doses of Naloxone.

“I am proud to join Aquila in offering life-saving overdose reversal kits to residents. For individuals who are facing the struggle of addiction, or those who have family members or friends in this fight, a naloxone kit is a must-have. For those in this situation, having naloxone on hand is like having an airbag in your vehicle – we hope that you won’t need to use it, but it is important to have one because it could save a life” said Commissioner Navarro.

Coverage for mental health has been a priority of the Commissioner. Efforts include working with the General Assembly and insurers to require coverage for serious mental illnesses including addiction, creating Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act reporting requirements, and ensuring that medication-assisted treatment for those with drug and alcohol dependencies can be accessible.

The event comes as the Delaware is seeing increased overdose rates during the coronavirus pandemic, with 39 suspected overdose deaths in May, tying the highest monthly total. As of the end of May, 160 suspected overdose deaths have occurred in Delaware, a 60% increase over a similar period of 2019.

“Aquila is pleased to partner with the Insurance Commissioner and the Town of Seaford to ensure Naloxone gets into the hands and homes of all individuals who may need it to keep their loved ones safe – we know that nobody chooses addiction, and by making this opioid reversal drug available, we can give individuals another chance to get treatment. Thank you to Public Health for continuing to provide these kits to the community,” said Amy Kevis, Director of Development for Aquila Behavioral Health of Delaware. Aquila provides comprehensive psychiatric and substance abuse treatment statewide. Learn more by calling (302) 999-1106.

The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health launched the 24/7 Hope line to serve as a single point of contact for resources, info, clinical and peer support, and crisis assistance. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse, do not wait, find help today. Call 1-833-9-HOPEDE or visit HelpisHereDE.com.

Any residents having problems obtaining insurance approval for treatment or prescriptions related to substance abuse or mental health needs, contact the Delaware Department of Insurance’s Consumer Services Division by emailing consumer@delaware.gov or calling (302) 674-7300.

Event attendees and media representatives must observe social distancing and wear a face covering.