Delaware health and public safety officials are issuing a warning after a spike in overdose deaths over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Six people died in Delaware of suspected drug overdoses between Friday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Sept. 1.
Four of the deaths occurred in Sussex County, two in New Castle County. Sussex County first responders report 25 suspected overdose incidents county-wide over the four-day weekend.
State health officials are encouraging those in active opioid use to seek long term addiction treatment and be sure they have access to the overdose antidote naloxone.
“Until the Division of Forensic Science determines the particular chemical make-up of the substances involved in these deaths, it is critical that people be aware of the dangers,” said Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, in a statement “Five of these deaths happened at residences, so it’s important that people have naloxone in their homes if they know or suspect their loved one is using opioids."
The Division of Forensic Science reports 194 overdose deaths in Delaware so far this year. The overdose rate has gone up in the state for the past six years with 400 overdose deaths reported in 2018—almost 300 of those deaths involved the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
Public safety officials encourage Delawareans to call 911 if they are witness to an overdose. Under Delaware’s Good Samaritan Law, people who report an overdose cannot be arrested for low-level drug crimes.
