Sussex County Council supports Delaware Goes Purple

At its Sept. 17 meeting, Sussex County Council approved a $5,000 grant to support educational programs in the Delaware Goes Purple initiative to fight opioid addiction.

The initiative started in Sussex County last year, and now has spread throughout the state, said Sussex County Health Coalition Executive Director Peggy Geisler.

She said the Sussex County Substance Use Prevention Program focuses on prevention to halt opioid use before it starts, and to educate people about alternative treatments to avoid the use of addictive opioids.

“We want people to understand that help is here. We want to people to know where resources are to keep needs met during this epidemic,” she said.

Geisler said Delaware is ranked third per capita in the nation in opioid deaths with 400 opioid-related deaths in 2018. Six people died in Sussex County over the Labor Day weekend alone.

This year's campaign is highlighted by a return visit to the state by Chris Herren, a standout high school, college and NBA basketball player who lost his career to addiction. The Chris Herren Story will take place at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Delaware State University, Dover.

“Every youth in Sussex County should hear him speak,” said Council President Mike Vincent of Seaford. “He had everything and ended up on the street. It's an amazing story.”

Geisler agreed with Vincent saying it could be possible if enough funding was available.

Geisler said the initiative has several prongs including awareness, education, collaboration, intervention and support services. Goals include identifying high-risk individuals, increased treatment, training, creation of family, peer and youth support groups, mentoring programs, a 24-hour call in line and a drop-in center.