First State number one in US for high dose opioid prescribing

De. – Delaware health officials say the First State is number one in the country for high dose opioid prescribing.

Delaware Division of Public Health is working with other state agencies, like the division of public regulations, to monitor controlled substance prescriptions in Delaware, especially opioids.

Katie Capelli with the Division of Health and Social Services says the prescription monitoring program is set up to keep an eye on the amount of controlled substances dispensed to make sure they are not over prescribed to patients.

“Monitoring prescription dispensation started years ago actually with the over prescribing of opioid’s such as oxycontin,” Capelli said. “This was the main contributor to our overdose deaths here in Delaware.”

The Division of Public Health says they are also informing their prescribers and pharmacists in Delaware of the best practices for medication dispensation to reduce addiction to opioids in Delaware.