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.

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.

DOVER, DE (Oct. 6, 2022) ­– The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) has created new resources and a new webinar specifically for pharmacists as part of its ongoing work to reduce substance use disorder.  DPH has worked with partners in the medical community to develop Delaware-specific, evidence-based education materials, aiming to reduce the risk of unintentional opioid prescription overdose deaths in the state. These materials are available on the health care provider page at HelpIsHereDE.com, including the new content created specifically for pharmacists.

According to the 2019 Annual Surveillance Report on Drug-Related Outcomes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Delaware ranked first in the nation for both high-dose opioid prescribing and long-acting opioid prescribing. In 2020, Delaware ranked third-highest among all states in overdose death rates (CDC, 2021). Of those overdose deaths, 88% involved opioids.

DPH partnered with Alosa Health, Inc., to provide one-on-one education for pharmacists. DPH and Alosa created a webinar (available on HelpIsHere.com) to educate pharmacists on the effects of co-prescribing naloxone (Narcan) with certain opioid prescriptions. Pharmacists who complete the webinar curriculum will be eligible to apply for Continuing Education credits (CEs). Among other topics covered in the webinar, pharmacists are encouraged to co-dispense naloxone with any opioid prescription exceeding 50 Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME) or upon discretion as outlined in the Centers for Disease Control and Prescription’s Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.

Pharmacies can participate in the Community-Based Naloxone Access Program (CBNAP) to deliver naloxone without a doctor’s prescription under a Standing Order. Naloxone is an opioid receptor antagonist used to reverse opioid overdose and opioid-induced respiratory depression, which can prevent death and brain damage from lack of oxygen. Naloxone is covered in full through Delaware Medicaid insurance.

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.

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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 its 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; to learn more about how it works, visit delawarerelay.com.

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.