Governor Announces Expansion of Addiction Treatment Services

Downstate detox center, increase in individualized treatment services, and informational website part of Statewide efforts

Wilmington, DE – Building on ongoing efforts to address the addiction epidemic in Delaware and the growing need of drug treatment services statewide, Governor Markell today unveiled efforts to expand addiction treatment services and support for Delawareans impacted by addiction.AddictionTreatmentPlan

“Across our state, too many of our neighbors and their family members are impacted by their loved one’s addiction to heroin, prescription drugs, alcohol or other substances,” said Governor Markell. “We must remain committed to opening the doors to addiction treatment because people deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential, free from the pain that addiction brings.”

Part of the efforts unveiled include establishing a new withdrawal management treatment center in Sussex County to serve individuals who live downstate. Currently, the State operates one detox center, NET Kirkwood Detoxification Center, in New Castle County. In addition, the State plans to offer more individualized treatment services at both locations through variable lengths of stay and increased supervision for those who require intense monitoring.

Funding for the new facility, which totals $950,000, is part of the $1 million that was approved by the General Assembly for FY15 to address gaps in the State’s drug treatment services after the Governor called for additional resources in his State of the State address. The other $50,000 of those funds will allow the Delaware Division of Public Health to work closely with Delaware school nurses to expand the “Smart Moves, Smart Choices” prescription drug abuse education and prevention campaign statewide.

“Above all else, we will achieve our greatest success if we can educate and prevent substance use among our young people,” said Governor Markell.AddictionTreatmentPlan

Recognizing the importance of education and prevention in addressing the addiction epidemic, the State also launched www.HelpIsHereDE.com, an information website that puts an emphasis on prevention, treatment and recovery; and announced the launch of a public awareness campaign that will support the website and focus on reducing the stigma associated with addiction.

The Governor also expressed his gratitude to Members of the General Assembly, including Senators Margaret Rose Henry and Bethany Hall-Long, as well as Representatives Mike Barbieri, Helene Kelley and Michael Mulrooney, who have worked with the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), advocates, health care providers and other community leaders to help shape the state’s priorities to address addiction.

Photos from the event


Governor Markell Reminds All Delawareans to Get a Flu Vaccination

New Castle, DE – Governor Jack Markell and Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Rita Landgraf received their annual flu shots today at a public flu clinic held at the New Castle Farmers Market by the Division of Public Health (DPH). Governor Markell asked all Delawareans to get a flu shot to best protect against illness during the 2014-2015 flu season. Flu shots

 

“We have the tools to protect our families, co-workers, and communities from this illness,” Governor Markell said.  “It’s important that Delawareans know about the many opportunities like today’s flu clinic where vaccinations are readily available.  We can limit the spread of the flu this season if more people get their shots and get them early.”

 

DPH continues to work to increase the number of people vaccinated, and for Delawareans to get vaccinated early in the flu season. During Delaware’s 2013-2014 flu season, there were 1,842 confirmed cases of influenza with six flu-related deaths. The largest portion of flu cases, 33 percent, were reported in the 25-49 age group. Of the 428 hospitalizations due to the flu and flu-associated causes like pneumonia, the largest portion, 27 percent, were in the 50-64 age group. 

 

“Since some flu seasons are severe, every Delawarean should prepare now by getting an annual flu vaccination,” Secretary Landgraf said.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an annual average of 23,600 deaths in the United States due to influenza and flu-associated causes such as pneumonia.  

 

“We want Delawareans to be protected before the flu season begins so they don’t miss work, school or other activities due to flu illness, and to protect others, especially those who are the most vulnerable to severe consequences including seniors, those with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women and young children,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, DPH Director. “It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the flu.”

 

DPH follows the CDC’s recommendation that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu shot. Seasonal flu activity commonly peaks in the United States between December and February. 

 

DPH’s “Get It” outreach campaign reminds Delawareans, especially healthy 19-49 year olds – to get their annual flu shot. This age group is less likely to get a flu vaccination and, as caregivers, has an increased potential to transmit the disease. Influenza affects everyone, particularly children, seniors, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical conditions. Flu shots

 

DHSS asks Delawareans to first seek flu vaccine from their health provider. DPH flu clinics are available for those who do not have a doctor, who cannot pay for the vaccine because they are uninsured, or who do not have insurance that covers the vaccine. Flu vaccinations are also available through most area pharmacies, grocery stores, and college health centers.

 

DPH’s flu clinic schedule is posted here. Though the vaccinations are free, donations and Medicaid are accepted. DPH clinics offer the intramuscular flu vaccine for ages 9 years and above. Children ages 6 months to 8 years who receive the flu vaccine for the first time need two doses, with the second dose given at least 28 days after the first dose.

 

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 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.


Governor Markell Signs Three Bills to Help Spur Brownfields Development, While Safeguarding Delaware’s Groundwater and Protecting Public Health

Wilmington, DE – On a former brownfield site that’s now a WSFS Bank branch location, Governor Jack Markell today signed legislation that enhances the state’s capabilities for transforming environmentally-impaired properties while also better protecting public health and groundwater resources from hazardous releases. Joined by the bills’ sponsors, Senator David McBride (D-Hawk’s Nest) and Representative Debra Heffernan (D-6th District), and DNREC Secretary David S. Small, Gov. Markell signed into law three bills that made changes in lending and liability language to Delaware’s Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act (HSCA), the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Act and the Jeffery Davis Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) Act.

The three bills, Senate Bill 198 and House Bills 367 and 368 codify lender liability provisions and clarify what lenders need to do to maintain their liability protection. In addition to making a number of technical revisions to Delaware’s HSCA, UST and AST cleanup programs, the bills signed by Gov. Markell ensure that banks and lending institutions are not held responsible for contamination on the site solely because they foreclose or provide the financing on properties that may be contaminated with hazardous substances and petroleum products.Hazardous Substances Bill Signing

“These new laws represent continued progress to make Delaware a safer and healthier state for residents and businesses, while promoting safe economic development at previously contaminated sites,” said Governor Markell. “To encourage lending institutions to support redevelopment of these sites, we need to ensure that they will not be punished for the pollution that they did not cause. It is the individuals and entities who contaminate our environment who should be held responsible for cleaning up their mess to the greatest extent possible. I thank Senator McBride and Representative. Heffernan for their leadership in ensuring that DNREC continues to have the legal tools needed to protect Delaware’s groundwater resources, which are so vital to our environment and economy.”

The three interrelated bills spearheaded by the two lawmakers also drew praise from the governor as “a collaborative effort involving the business community, industry representatives, legislators, and environmental regulators to protect public health and the environment, especially Delaware’s precious drinking water resources.”

“Historic releases of petroleum products and other hazardous substances have emerged as a major cause of groundwater contamination in the State,” said DNREC Secretary David Small. “It’s noteworthy that the Governor’s signing these bills today at the location of a former service station, where petroleum releases impacted soils and groundwater in the area. As with many complex groundwater contamination sites, this site is still undergoing remediation after almost two decades. Yet through the collaborative effort between a business developer and DNREC’s Tank Management and Brownfield Development Programs, the site was safely cleaned up to support redevelopment, bringing new business opportunities and jobs to the Brandywine Hundred area. These new laws support the repurposing of environmentally-impaired properties into safe, viable and thriving business sites.”

The HSCA Bill (SB 198) sponsored by Sen. McBride addresses issues raised by the Delaware Bankers Association along with suggestions made for the Governor’s Executive Order 36, which called for review and reform of all state regulations for better efficiencies in state government. The HSCA bill codifies lender liability provisions to ensure that banks are not held responsible for contamination on a site solely on the basis of providing financing for its redevelopment. SB 198 also allows DNREC to directly pay consultants working for a brownfield developer, with the developer’s consent – in addition to the current system where DNREC reimburses the developer for their payments to the consultant. The bill also makes HSCA enforcement consistent with other Department code and allows DNREC to issue a Secretary’s Order, followed by a public hearing (if requested), rather than requiring a hearing prior to issuing an order.Hazardous Substances Bill Signing

Senate Majority Leader McBride championed Delaware’s original  brownfields bill that passed in 2004, and which he said has succeeded beyond his hopes. A 2010 University of Delaware study found that each dollar invested in brownfields showed a return on investment of $17.50. “Brownfields are an important, but still underdeveloped resource for Delaware and, for all of us who want to see brownfields converted to new, productive uses, this is an important change in the law. I think we all hope it will encourage more development on these sites,” said McBride, who championed the new law. “It will encourage banks to make the loans needed to redevelop brownfields by not holding them liable for contamination and will allow the state to directly pay consultants working with businesses to redevelop these sites.”

The UST Bill (HB 367) sponsored by Rep. Heffernan also addresses lender liability in addition to clarifying who is responsible for releases from underground storage tank systems. The other major change is to the responsible party liability provisions by making the responsible parties who benefited from operation of the facility pay for the cleanup.  Along with technical edits, the bill clarifies DNREC’s right to access a property to confirm suspected releases and allows the Department to require an environmental covenant be placed on a property where residual contamination is left in place that might require additional remediation if the property is converted to another use.

The UST Bill (HB 367) sponsored by Rep. Heffernan also addresses lender liability. In addition the bill ensures that there will always be a responsible party who can be found liable to pay for a release from an underground storage tank. This will save taxpayer dollars and help ensure that the polluter pays for the cleanup. It will also assist in ensuring that abandoned gas stations enter Delaware’s successful Brownfields Program. The bill also clarifies DNREC’s right to access a property to confirm and clean up suspected releases. Additionally, it enables DNREC to require that an environmental covenant be placed on a property where residual contamination is left in place that might require additional remediation if the property is converted from commercial to residential land use.  Hazardous Substances Bill Signing

“When a gas station owner walks away from a property without removing the underground storage tanks or doing the necessary cleanup, it  becomes a problem for the community,” said Rep. Heffernan. “Leaking underground storage tanks are still considered a major  threat to our groundwater, and vapors from petroleum spills can release carcinogens to our indoor air. In Delaware, we need to do everything  we can to hold owners and operators who caused these releases liable for paying for the necessary environmental cleanups.

The AST Bill (HB 368) also sponsored by Rep. Heffernan provides similar environmental cleanup liability protections for lenders who foreclose on properties that contain ASTs, and also sets forth the criteria and process for lenders to maintain this liability protection. HB 368 also corrects a previous omission by specifying a timeframe for DNREC to file an environmental lien with the Recorder of Deeds.

“I’m very proud of these bills and the quality work of everyone who worked on them,” Rep. Heffernan said. “It took a true partnership between the business community, DNREC,  and the Attorney General’s office to get all of these bills done in one session. I’m glad they were all presented to the legislature together, which allowed us to take a holistic look towards improving how environmental cleanup work is done in Delaware.”

Photos from the event


Governor’s Signature Supports Delaware’s Volunteer Emergency Responders

Cheswold, DE – Joined by members of the General Assembly and volunteer firefighters at Cheswold Volunteer Fire Company today to recognize Delawareans who provide life support services, Governor Markell signed into law three bills to help ensure volunteer ambulance and fire companies have the financial support to continue to serve the state to the best of their abilities.Ambulance Services Bill Signing

The legislation addresses findings of the Ambulance and EMS Funding Task Force that was created in 2013 and examined the outlook of emergency services in Delaware, finding that “the public may begin to see diminished ambulance service in as little as 8 to 12 months, if steps are not taken promptly to meet the funding need.”

“No one wants to think about being in a situation that requires help from our emergency responders, but we have a responsibility to ensure Delawareans have access to ambulance and EMS life support services,” said Governor Markell. “Today, we take an important step forward in sustaining our volunteer ambulance and fire companies.”

The bills signed included:

  • Senate Bill 207, sponsored by Senator Bruce Ennis (D-Smyrna), requires that Delaware health insurance policies cover the cost of every ambulance run and the basic life support provided by a volunteer ambulance company.
  • House Bill 315, sponsored by Representative William Carson (D-Smyrna), establishes a Volunteer Ambulance Company Fund, administered by the State Fire Prevention Commission and funded through a $10 assessment on all motor vehicle violations under Title 21 of the Delaware Code.
  • House Bill 317, also sponsored by Rep. Carson, increases from 0.15% to 0.21% the share of the gross premium tax already paid by health insurance companies to be distributed to volunteer fire companies.

“Our emergency services needed help, so the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association and we in the General Assembly teamed together and got the job done,” said Rep. Carson, a past chief of Citizens Hose Co. in Smyrna. “These men and women come to our aid whenever they are called, and it was our duty to help them when they needed it most.”Ambulance Services Bill Signing

In addition to being the lead sponsor of one of the bills, Sen. Ennis was co-chairman of the Ambulance and EMS Funding Task Force which specifically found a statewide $8.6 million operating deficit for EMS companies and Ennis said the new laws will help tackle those challenges.

“We didn’t get everything we wanted, but we are taking a good first step that I think will help end that deficit,” Ennis said. “I think this is really going to help our emergency medical service.”

Photos from the bill signings

 


Dr. Gary L. Collins Named Delaware Chief Medical Examiner

Today Lewis D. Schiliro, Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security, announced the appointment of Dr. Gary L. Collins as Delaware’s Chief Medical Examiner.  Dr. Collins will oversee the many forensic and pathology testing functions performed by the Division of Forensic Science (DFS).

“Working to get the new Division of Forensic Science fully operationally is a top priority,” said Governor Jack Markell. “Because Dr. Collins has worked extensively in the field of forensic science, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our State at a time when it is needed most. He stands ready to help us meet the challenges ahead as the Division moves forward with its transition.”

Dr. Collins, who is currently serving as a Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for the City of Philadelphia, has performed thousands of autopsies certifying the manner and cause of death in more than 4,000 cases.  As second in command for the past two years, he has supervised the operations of the Medical Examiner’s Officer while collaborating with other staff overseeing the forensic investigators and autopsy technicians as well as clerical staff.

“Dr. Collins comes to Delaware, having served for over seven years in the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office including two years as Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, with forensic, pathology and court experience. He is sure to provide a fresh perspective to the position and will help us reinvigorate this new Division of Forensic Science,” Sec. Schiliro said.

While employed in a large urban setting such as Philadelphia with several major medical training centers and pediatric hospitals, Dr. Collins gained experience in a variety of forensic, medical, and public health-related cases and formed valuable professional relationships with medical faculty at the various institutions.

Dr. Collins, a graduate of the University of West Indies, completed his pathology residency at the University of South Florida and his forensic pathology residency at the Drexel University College of Medicine. He is also board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and forensic pathology.

“I bring a number of years of experience in the field of forensic pathology gained while working in a busy office. I look forward to working with the Division and enhancing the practice of forensic science in Delaware,” Dr. Collins said. As a Delaware resident, this is also a great opportunity for me to work closer to my home.”

“Dr. Collins will improve and further the function of pathology,” said Randall L. Hughes, DFS Acting Director. “He is a proven leader and expert in his field. We welcome him to our team”

Dr. Collins fills a vacancy created by the dismissal of Dr. Richard Callery in July.