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.

Monthly Suspected Overdose Deaths Continue To Rise, Hit Record High For January

Over the past three months (November and December 2022 and January 2023), preliminary data indicates that suspected overdose deaths in Delaware have increased. Suspected accidental overdose data is reported by the Division of Forensic Science (DFS) and is considered preliminary until all data is finalized. Since November, the average monthly increase of suspected overdose deaths is 18.4%. In January 2023, 53 people died from suspected overdoses in Delaware, which represents a 47% increase over January 2022, when 36 suspected overdose deaths were reported.

In 2021, Delaware reported that there were 515 confirmed overdose deaths, with more than 83% involving the use of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid pain reliever that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. According to DFS, most overdose deaths involve more than one substance. Unknown to the potential user, fentanyl is being added to drugs like counterfeit anxiety medication and pain medication. There are fentanyl analogs being identified such as para-fluorofentanyl which is consistent with surrounding areas like Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Additionally, Delaware agencies have observed an increase in xylazine in surrounding states. Xylazine, a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer not approved for human use, has recently been linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths nationwide. According to DFS, xylazine has been identified in overdose deaths in Delaware, and the Delaware State Police (DSP) also confirmed that between October 2021 and January 2023, xylazine was present in 283 cases. According to DSP, these samples are the only ones that were scheduled for trial. Of those 283 cases, xylazine was mainly found alongside or found in combination with powder/chunks or illicit prescription drugs. Additionally, xylazine-positive cases have been found in combination with fentanyl, Fluorofentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, tramadol, and methamphetamine. It is packaged in blue or white glassine wax-type bags. It is important to note that xylazine is not an opioid, therefore Narcan (an opioid overdose reversal medication) will not be as effective in overdoses containing xylazine.

In response to increasing overdose deaths, the Division of Public Health (DPH) has increased its messaging around fentanyl including targeting messaging to recreational drug users such as youth through its fentanyl campaign. Additionally, DPH has detailed information about fentanyl on whatisfentanyl.com. Fentanyl test strips and Narcan are available through HelpisHereDE.com. According to data from the Division of Forensic Science, a majority of people who have died from an accidental overdose had multiple drugs in their systems. No drug that is not prescribed by a medical doctor is safe. The State of Delaware is continually monitoring surrounding states and improving internal surveillance to report to the public which substances are being identified.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction in Delaware, call the DHSS 24/7 Crisis Hotline to be connected to treatment and recovery options. In New Castle County, call 1-800-652-2929. Or in Kent and Sussex counties, call 1-800-345-6785. For free 24/7 counseling, coaching, and support, as well as links to mental health, addiction, and crisis services call the Delaware Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE. To search for treatment and recovery services in Delaware or nearby states, visit HelpIsHereDE.com. if youth are struggling with their mental health or substance use disorder, there are resources available on HelpIsHereDE.com for immediate treatment in person, by phone or text, or online. Crisis intervention services for children under 18 are available 24/7 for parents and caregivers at 800-969-4357 or by texting DE to 741-741.

Division Of Public Health Releases Information On 2020 Delaware Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths

DOVER, DE (August 30, 2022) – The Division of Public Health (DPH) is releasing a 2020 State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) fact sheet on all drug overdose deaths that occurred in Delaware. This snapshot contains fatality data abstracted from the state’s Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) collaborative. DPH collects and analyzes unintentional drug overdose death data from death certificate information, medical examiner reports, forensic toxicology results, and law enforcement reports.

The fact sheet provides information on the drugs listed as the cause of death on the death certificate and drugs identified as present by toxicology or medical examiner reporting. Almost all heroin overdose deaths had fentanyl present (99%). Furthermore, fentanyl was the drug most frequently listed as the cause of death (84%). Most overdose deaths had more than one drug present (78%) and (84%) of all cocaine overdose deaths had fentanyl. Similarly, fentanyl presence is high among methamphetamine (79%) and benzodiazepine (79%) overdose deaths.

“As we commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31 and remember the lives lost to overdose, it is important for all Delawareans and visitors to the state to know that no illicit drug is safe,” said DPH Interim Director Dr. Rick Hong. “Assume that drugs not prescribed by your doctor contain, or are laced with, fentanyl. The information analyzed by the Overdose Data to Action collaborative clearly shows that fentanyl is present in not only opioids, but also cocaine, and counterfeit prescription medications.”

DPH is finalizing its strategy to distribute fentanyl test strips in bulk. Currently, the public can receive two test strips in any DPH Narcan kit, which are available through mail order and at points of distribution (POD) events listed on HelpisHereDE.com. To prevent overdose death, in addition to having Narcan on hand and utilizing fentanyl test strips, a person in active substance use should never use alone and go slow so that someone they trust can monitor them for any adverse side effects.

To prevent the spread of infectious diseases, DPH encourages persons with substance use disorder (SUD) to engage with Brandywine Counseling & Community Services for more information and syringe exchange services by visiting BrandywineCounseling.com or calling 302-656-2348.

DPH encourages those struggling with SUD to visit HelpIsHereDE.com to connect to treatment online, in person, or by phone.

Friends and family need to recognize the signs and symptoms of a SUD. It is also important that parents, educators, counselors, and other influential members recognize the seriousness of fentanyl and have conversations about the risk of overdose when experimenting with drugs.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction in Delaware, call the DHSS 24/7 Crisis Hotline to be connected to treatment and recovery options. In New Castle County, call 1-800-652-2929. Or in Kent and Sussex counties, call 1-800-345-6785.

For free 24/7 counseling, coaching, and support, as well as links to mental health, addiction, and crisis services call the Delaware Hope Line at 833-9-HOPEDE. To search for treatment and recovery services in Delaware or nearby states, visit HelpIsHereDE.com.

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The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), a division of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, is a nationally accredited public health agency recognized by the Public Health Accreditation Board for outstanding dedication to driving change through innovation. DPH 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.

Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind or speech disabled can contact DPH by first dialing 711 using specialized devices (i.e., TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free and to learn more about how it works, visit delawarerelay.com.