Del. gets $38.8 million from feds to assist in opioid crisis

The money will help fund opioid crisis prevention and mental health services. (Photo from iStock/Getty Images)

Nearly $40 million of federal funding is headed to the First State for substance use disorder and mental health services.

There were 527 fatal overdoses in Delaware in 2023.

“Brandywine is very excited that Delaware was able to secure $38.8 million from the Biden-Harris administration to continue to support the work the Behavioral Health providers are doing across the State to reach those in need and save lives,” said Lynn Morrison, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Brandywine Counseling & Community Services .

The $38.8 million in new funding will help combat the opioid crisis which has been sweeping the nation.

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The federal government is awarding the money through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which helps states, tribal lands, and territories address opioid addiction.

Morrison said she’s eager to see how the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health uses the funds to support providers in the work of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery supports.

The money allows the state to fund a variety of programs and initiatives to address the opioid epidemic, said Joanna Champney, director of the Delaware Health and Social Services ’ Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health

This includes:

• Funding Bridge Clinics throughout the state where patients can receive addiction and mental health supports.
• Funding residential and outpatient addiction treatment services in all three counties for uninsured people.
• Supporting law enforcement diversion opportunities for people struggling with addiction
• Providing free naloxone.
• Supporting innovative programming to screen people for opiate use disorder, refer them to treatment, and enhance treatment services.

“Funds are also used to support integrated recovery housing and health equity advancement programming to specifically reach racial and ethnic minorities at risk of opioid use disorder,” Champney said.

From April 2023 to April 2024, overdose deaths decreased by roughly 10%, and overdose deaths fell for the first time in a decade in Delaware, according to data from the Delaware Division of Forensic Science.

Funds are also used to support integrated recovery housing and health equity advancement programming to specifically reach racial and ethnic minorities at risk of opioid use disorder.

It allows the state to launch the Overdose Response Center to identify and respond to overdose hot spots and to provide supports to survivors of nonfatal overdose.

“With 527 fatal overdoses in Delaware in 2023, these funds provide a crucial resource pool, coupled with state funds, to ensure a public infrastructure is available to help prevent overdose and provide treatment and recovery supports,” Champney said.