“That’s what’s important:” New initiative expands resources for opioid use disorders in Delaware

DELAWARE – “What we argue is that there needs to be a systematic approach to see these number decrease and to bring resiliency,” DEMCO Inc.’s VP of External Relations Leandra Marshall said.

Delaware reported 515 overdose deaths in 2021, a 15% increase from 2020 according to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science.

In a push to lower those numbers, the Community Well-Being Initiative connects those struggling with prevention services. The program is a partnership between with the Department of Human and Social Services Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and the University of Delaware’s Partnership for Health Communities.

“They’re using ambassadors that have had some type of struggle themselves with either substance abuse related issues and/or mental health related issues. They know how to actually connect with the individuals in the community,” Dean of DSU’s Wesley College of Health & Behavioral Sciences Gwendolyn Scott-Jones said.

The program will now reach Kent County, targeting four zip codes with high rates of overdoses and drug traffic.

Delaware State University is the managing partner for the area and attributes many factors to substance abuse. “Not having access to treatment. They may not have access to knowing that you can go to a clinic for opioids or a methadone clinic,” Scott-Jones said.

“Also looking at individuals who many not have access to having a Medicaid or Medicare card and these individuals have some health related issues.”

DFS also reported that 425 out of the 515 deaths involved fentanyl. It’s something Delaware Multicultural Civic Organization tells us is becoming a growing concern in the area. “Fentanyl is dangerous because it just has a high rate of pushing people to the point of overdose,” Marshall said.

“The young adults don’t realize that their drug of choice, whether it’s crack or heroin, that Fentanyl has been added. That is one of the issues.”

Yet, those we spoke with say the key to prevention is education. “Community Well-Being Ambassadors will be able to galvanize these individuals so they can go and get the proper treatment they need. That’s what’s important,” Scott-Jones said.

Just in Kent County alone, overdose deaths increased 74% from 50 in 2020 to 87 in 2021.

The initiative will launch this fall and be staffed by 16 Community Well-being Ambassadors and two program coordinators.