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Editorial: Opioid epidemic continues to rage

April 20, 2018

Delaware's Department of Health and Social Services last week warned that a deadly supply of fentanyl-laced heroin has been circulating recently in New Jersey. It poisoned dozens, and it killed six people in the Camden area between April 6 and 9. The East Coast supply corridor runs along I-95, bringing it dangerously close to Delaware.

This could bring another wave of overdose deaths.

As of April 9, there have been 71 suspected heroin overdose deaths in Delaware: 50 in New Castle County, 6 in Kent County and 15 in Sussex. The dead range in age from 19 to 74. Every one of those deaths is a tragedy filled with sadness, frustration and futility.

Delaware this year is averaging 24 suspected heroin-overdose deaths per month. In 2017, the state recorded 345 suspected overdose deaths or almost 29 per month. The 2017 total was up 12 percent over the 308 in 2016.

If the 2018 trend holds, there may be fewer overdose deaths this year. Awareness about the opioid epidemic has spread quickly. More families of victims are speaking openly, encouraging others to be open and working for solutions. More federal and state resources are being allocated to address the problem.

But, according to one Sussex emergency room doctor, the problem is still an epidemic. Incidents, he said, are holding at a high level. "We're getting better at saving overdose victims, with emergency responders carrying Narcan, but I don't see fewer cases."

Overprescription of opioid painkillers that can lead to addiction, along with cheap heroin available when prescriptions run out, continue to be major contributors.

And, he said, there remains a shortage of clinics available for those seeking help.

Fighting this epidemic successfully will require vigilance from all of us, even more awareness of problems faced by those around us struggling with addiction, caring enough to get them into programs, pushing for more spaces in programs to treat those addicted and more research into vaccines or other interventions to prevent addiction.

 

  • Editorials are considered and written by Cape Gazette Editorial Board members, including Publisher Chris Rausch, Editor Jen Ellingsworth, News Editor Nick Roth and reporters Ron MacArthur and Chris Flood. 

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