Health officials weigh in on Sussex Co. overdose spike

In Delaware, state officials are still wrapping their minds around what led to a dangerous increase in heroin overdoses this weekend.

In a 24 hour period, seven overdoses, including one that was fatal, were reported.

"What the communities in Delaware and Maryland are beginning to experience  are these significant  spike in overdoses and overdose deaths ," says Dr. Michael Finegan, the Director of Peninsula Addiction Services and former member of the Emergency Heroin and Opiod Task Force.

Dr. Finegan says this has been a common trend.

As of Monday, it's unknown what caused this spike in overdoses in Western Sussex County, but one Delaware health official has an idea.

"What might likely have happened was that people thought they were just using heroin, which may have been laced with or fully with fentanyl," says Dr. Karyl Rattay, the Director of the Delaware Division of Public Health.

Dr. Finegan agrees. He says fentanyl is a pain medication that is sometimes added by drug dealers.

"That is 50 times more powerful than heroin, so what happens is that powerful drug  causes respiratory arrest in the individual, their lungs stop working and they suffocate," says Dr. Finegan.

Finegan also adds, another reason why he thinks overdose spikes occur is because there are problems with treatment. He says some doctors don't take a long term approach in treating opioid abuse.
 
"People don't like long term approaches, they like quick fixes. There is not a quick fix to the overwhelming devastation  to the individual suffering of opioid use disorder," says Dr. Finegan.

Dr. Finegan and staff at the Delaware Division of Public Health say they don't believe this spike occurred simply because of an increase of overdose reports.

They do say legislation like the Good Samaritan Law coupled with an increased availability of Nalaxone is preventing more overdose-related deaths, but health officials admit there is still plenty of work needed to address this epidemic.

Police are still actively investigating and seeking information on any of the drug overdoses that occurred. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sussex County Drug Unit at (302) 752-3815.

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