The weeklong spike in drug overdose cases in Sussex County is now starting to drift north.
Delaware State Police are saying there have now been a combined 125 suspected overdoses between Sussex and Kent County since April 26.
83 of the cases have been reported in Sussex County, with the majority in the Georgetown, Millsboro, and Milford corridor of Route 113, but there have been cases outside of that region.
Kent County has now reached 42 cases in the past week, with health officials believing they have let to ICU visits and intubation, just as seen in Sussex County.
The Delaware National Guard has been called in to test samplings of the drugs, and have found Xylazine, Bromazolam, Fentanyl, Quinine, and Caffeine.
Earlier in the week, Police said they were finding many of the suspected overdoses coming after users were near small, white wax paper bags, typically associated with heroin.
There have been five suspected overdose fatalities this week, with the last two still being confirmed through toxicology tests.
“We are seeing a greater number of patients being treated for suspected overdose but, more notably, a significant increase in the severity of the effects of overdoses,” said Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Director Joanna Champney in a statement. “This severity is reflected in a greater percentage of patients needing admission with many of them requiring intubation, ICU level care, and multiple days in the hospital.”
There are several ways you can seek treatment if you or someone you know may have overdosed:
- 911: In cases of overdose or medical emergencies, dial or text 911.
- Delaware 211: Dial 2-1-1 or visit delaware211.org for free, confidential assistance in multiple languages.
- Delaware Hope Line: Call 1-833-9-HOPEDE (1-833-946-7333) for 24/7 access to resources, support, and crisis assistance.
- Bridge Clinics: Explore treatment services and resources in Delaware and neighboring states. In-person assessments are available at locations in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties.
- Treatment Connection: Find nearby treatment providers at TreatmentConnection.com.
- 988: For immediate crisis support, dial 988.
- Narcan Training and OpiRescueDE App: Information on Narcan training and accessing medication is available online.
