Delaware has seen a steady increase in drug overdose deaths over the past few years, mainly fueled by opioids such as heroin and fentanyl. Rates of cocaine abuse remain high, and deaths related to cocaine abuse recently increased.1,2 In fact, after a decline between 2012 and 2014, cocaine-related deaths in Delaware rose 44.8% from 2014 to 2015.2
Past-year heroin use in Delaware for people aged 12 and older declined from 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, from 1.12% to 1.05%. However, this rate was far above the national average for these years (0.3% and 0.33%, respectively).1
Drug-related overdose deaths in Delaware increased from 2012 to 2015, from 172 to 228. In 2016, the number increased again, to 308.2,3 In 2015, opioid overdose deaths made up 67% of all overdose deaths in the state.4
Past-year cocaine use and past-month alcohol use among residents age 12 and older were also above the national average in 2015.5,6
Encouragingly, the number of people enrolled in substance abuse treatment in single-day counts went from 4,607 in 2011 to 10,327 in 2015.