Between Friday and Monday this past weekend, 30 Delawareans overdosed statewide.
That means an average of about seven people required medical attention each day. Six of the 30 individuals died, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services.
And now, in the wake of a recent overdose spike in Camden, New Jersey, state health officials fear the worst for those actively using heroin in the First State.
At least a dozen overdoses, which included four fatalities, were reported Friday in the city just across the river from Philadelphia, where Delaware gets most of its heroin. Camden County Police attributed the overdose spike to heroin laced with fentanyl, a synthetic painkiller considered to be up to 50 times more potent than heroin.
Already, Delaware has seen 71 deaths this year — six of which occurred over this past weekend, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services.
“Because of I-95, we know it’s easy for heroin and other illicit drugs to flow to Delaware from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and other states,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, secretary of the state health department, in a statement Tuesday. “If you are in active use, we urge you to seek treatment immediately. If you continue to use substances, have the overdose-reversing medication naloxone with you because the risk for death is increased. Our first priority is to reduce harm and save lives.”
The death toll in Delaware increased last year, up 12 percent from 2016. The state reported 345 suspected overdose deaths, but the full breakdown of drugs responsible for those deaths has not yet been released by the state Division of Forensic Science.
So far this year, the age range of deaths is as young as 19 and as old as 74.
The state said New Castle County has experienced the deadliest wake of overdoses, counting 50 so far this year. Fifteen people have died in Sussex County, and another six have died in Kent County, according to the state.
Health officials especially fear heroin laced with fentanyl due to its high potency and, oftentimes, the numerous doses of the overdose antidote, naloxone, to revive users.
Last year, first responders statewide administered naloxone — known more commonly by the brand name Narcan — 2,714 times to 1,906 patients in suspected overdose situations, according to the state health department.
Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.
How to get help:
New Castle County: 1-800-652-2929
Kent and Sussex counties: 1-800-345-6785
Online: HelpIsHereDE.com