A third of Delaware's fentanyl deaths in 2016 occurred in Sussex County, according to statistics recently released by the Division of Forensic Science.
Officials call the increases alarming, contributing to more than 300 overdose deaths statewide. Of the 308 total, 120 were fentanyl-related deaths.
"Even one use of an illicit drug can lead to overdose and death, but the added presence of fentanyl dramatically increases those risks. We hope that those affected will talk with a provider to help individuals get connected to treatment for this disease," said Kara Odom Walker, secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services.
In 2016, the number of fentanyl-related deaths nearly tripled, from 42 reported in 2015 to 120 in 2016. In 2012, officials say, 15 deaths were reported.
Of the 120 fentanyl-related deaths reported in 2016, officials say fentanyl alone was confirmed in 51 cases, cocaine also was present in 48 cases, and heroin was confirmed in 37. In 16 cases, heroin and cocaine were both confirmed positive, in addition to fentanyl.
Officials said drug dealers sell pure fentanyl in white powder form to users who assume they are buying heroin. They also lace fentanyl with cocaine or heroin. And they press fentanyl into pills and pass them off as OxyContin.
When a user ingests fentanyl or a drug laced with fentanyl, it affects the central nervous system and brain, said Jill Fredel, spokeswoman for DHSS. Because it is such a powerful opioid, users often have trouble breathing or can stop breathing as the drug sedates them. If someone is too drowsy to answer questions, is having difficulty breathing, or appears to be so asleep they cannot be awakened, she said, call 911 immediately.
Naloxone, the overdose-reversing medication carried in Delaware by community members, paramedics and some police officers, can be administered in overdoses involving fentanyl. Because fentanyl is more potent than heroin or opioid painkillers, multiple doses of naloxone may be needed to reverse an overdose. In 2016, Fredel said, Delaware paramedics and police officers administered naloxone 2,334 times in suspected overdose situations.
About 80 percent of the 120 fentanyl-related overdose deaths involved men, and about 59 percent were people in their 30s and 40s. Nationwide, the CDC has reported more people died in 2014 from drug overdoses than car crashes.
"We know that 80 percent of people who are addicted to opioids started with prescription painkillers," said Division of Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. "The safest course is to avoid prescription painkillers altogether or to use them at the lowest possible dose for the shortest period of time. Opioids become less effective over time, so people may feel compelled to take higher doses to get the same results or even seek out illegal sources such as heroin.
In the spring, DHSS will initiate a community outreach campaign in support of its www.HelpIsHereDE.com website. The campaign will include the unveiling of the revamped website, making it easier to navigate and find information, and new resources and materials on addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. In addition, DHSS will develop materials for medical providers on prescribing pain medications and information on how to screen patients and connect them with addiction treatment resources, as well as materials on preventing substance exposure in infants.