In 2012, the First State saw only 15 overdose deaths involving fentanyl. That number soared to 42 deaths in 2015.
But 2016 has seen an alarming uptick in fentanyl-related overdose deaths - which have increased by 114 percent since 2015.
“We are already seeing more than a doubling of fentanyl deaths this year from last year and we haven’t even completed the year," said Dr. KarylRattay, Delaware’s Division of Public Health Director.
She says from January through September of this year – 90 Delawareans have died because of a fentanyl overdose.
“We are extremely alarmed," Rattay said. "Clearly there is more fentanyl out there on the streets and it is much more potent – maybe 50 times more potent than heroin – and clearly very deadly.”
Additionally – Rattay says the fentanyl available on the streets is often disguised and sold pressed into prescription pills like Oxycodone. It is also often laced with other drugs like heroin and cocaine.
Rattay says there’s also been a faster rise of fentanyl deaths in more rural areas.
“We do see a higher number of these fentanyl deaths in New Castle County, but we’re seeing a faster increase in overdose deaths in Kent and Sussex counties," Rattay said.
Rattay adds overdoses mostly affect Caucasian men in their 20s to 40s. Over the last few months, nearly 85% of fentanyl-related deaths involved Caucasian men.
Many of those who died also tested positive for cocaine and heroin.
Last year in Delaware, there were a total of 228 drug-related overdose deaths including fentanyl.
Nationally, individuals are 1.5 times more likely to die of a drug overdose than a car crash.
