Delaware sees a 36 percent decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2024, according to new data from state agencies.
There were 338 confirmed overdose deaths in 2024 compared to 527 in 2023 and 537 in 2022. The Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s Division of Forensic Sciences publishes the confirmed number of drug deaths each quarter.
There was a 26.5 percent decline in drug overdose deaths nationally, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health’s director Joanna Champney said that’s an encouraging change that lines up with regional trends.
“I think what it's telling us is that the efforts that the state and the nation are undergoing to try to distribute Narcan, address the stigma of reaching out and getting help, ensuring that people understand addiction as a health issue… I think all of that we do believe is making a difference,” Champney said.
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security and the Delaware Department of Justice hosted a briefing to discuss the new data.
DSAMH increased the number of naloxone kits it distributed in 2024, targeting higher risk zip codes. They are available at harm reduction vending machines or by reaching out to the division.
But Champney said there’s still work to be done.
“We're just heartened that the numbers are trending in a downward direction, and we really hope to keep the momentum going, and we will continue working until the drug deaths number is zero.”
Champney added that it’s important people have access to Narcan and education on available services – like harm reduction vending machines – and the emerging threats of the drug supply in Delaware.
Champney estimated fentanyl plays a role in about three quarters of all drug overdoses.
“Interestingly, other substances that we have been hearing about recently, like xylazine, for example, is still around. But late in 2024 we saw a drop in xylazine,” Champney said.
Xylazine is a veterinary sedative that can cause lesions when injected by people using drugs. Champney said Delaware is seeing a rise in the use of medetomidine.
“Like xylazine, it's also a veterinary drug, but it's not safe. It's not safe for human consumption, and it's causing some really serious respiratory issues and other issues… It's really serious and can cause people to stop breathing, and have blood pressure issues and heart rate issues. And so while people are trying to reverse an overdose, they may be successful in doing that with the Narcan, but then the medetomidine is causing additional physical issues that have to be treated.”
DSAMH circulates a drug stamp bulletin to keep people posted on what substances are found in certain drug stamps.
“People who use drugs are able to look at that and hopefully make informed decisions about which drug stamps they might want to purchase again. And it also helps providers to be able to have conversations with their clients.”
