Page 31 - Delaware Medical Journal - July-August 2018

OPINION
determine if those are questions worth asking.
The second screening area that needs more attention involves substance use, both prescription medications and illegal drugs. Last year, we lost 345 people to overdoses in Delaware.2 More than 76 percent of those fatal overdose deaths were of whites, and of those, far more involved men than women. The 2017 total was up more than 12 percent over the 308 lives lost in 2016. Compare that to the 125 accidents.
Research has shown that simply asking about tobacco and alcohol use decreases use, and growing evidence shows the same for other substances. With more than 11,000 Delawareans suffering from substance use disorders, you likely know these patients and their families. Asking how many times in the past year someone has used an illegal drug or a prescription medication for non-medical reasons can save lives. By assessing patients for drug use severity, you will become part of our statewide strategy to get more people connected to treatment and resources.
If you determine that someone is at immediate risk, you can refer your
patient to the DHSS 24/7 Behavioral Health Crisis Hotline. In New Castle,
call 1-800-652-2929. In Kent and Sussex counties, call 1-800-345-6785. Our trained professionals will connect people to the substance use disorder or mental health services they need, and if someone is
in immediate mental health crisis, our mobile crisis staff can be anywhere in
the state in less than an hour. We also encourage you or your patients to visit www.HelpIsHereDE.com, the DHSS one- stop website for information and resources on addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. Click on the “Health Care Providers” tab.
Here’s another indicator of that growing
well of despair across our country. Early in April, Truth for America’s Health and the Well Being Trust released a report and suicide deaths per 100,000 residents in each state. As you probably expected, Delaware’s rates are skyrocketing.
In 1999, the rate in those three categories combined in Delaware was 24 deaths per 100,000 people. In 2005, the rate actually decreased slightly to 23 deaths per 100,000. But in 2015, it climbed more than 78 percent to 41 deaths per 100,000. And by 2025, the deaths from alcohol, drugs, and suicide are expected to reach 60 per 100,000. By 2025, Delaware’s population is estimated to be more than 1 million. That means we will lose more than 600 Delawareans a year if these trends continue.
Many of those Delawareans who died were your patients. The people who are suffering today could be your current or future patients. We have an obligation to understand our patients’ emotional pain and the behaviors they are embracing in response to that pain.
I know every minute in the exam
room counts, but having your staff ask screening questions about community violence and substance use could lead to critical breakthroughs with your patients, and, ultimately, to saving their lives.
SAMPLING OF RESOURCES:
For behavioral health treatment options for adults in Delaware and for mental health crisis:
• Department of Health and Social Services’ 24/7 Crisis Hotline: 1-800-652- 2929 in New Castle County, or 1-800-345- 6785 in Kent and Sussex counties.
Delaware 24/7 Child Mental Health Mobile Crisis (under age 18): 800-696-4357
Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1-800-273-8255 (veterans, please press 1)
For referrals for intimate
partner violence:
• Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 302-658-2958 (New Castle County) or 1-800-701-0456 (Kent and Sussex) or www.dcadv.org
• CHILD, Inc.’s Domestic Violence Program: 302-762-6110 (New Castle County)
• The Safe Program at People’s Place II: 302-422-8058 (Kent and Sussex)
• Abriendo Puertas Bilingual Hotline: 302-745-9874 (Sussex)
• SOAR (Survivors of Abuse in Recovery, Inc.): 302-655-3953 (Wilmington and Newark); 302-422-3811 (Dover); 302-645-4903 (Georgetown)
For behavioral health treatment, recovery or support:
• NAMI Delaware: 302-427-0787 or www.namidelaware.org
• Mental Health Association in Delaware: 302-654-6833 or www.mhainde.org
• HelpIsHereDE (addiction only): www.helpisherede.com
• atTAcK addiction (addiction only): 302-384-7688 or www.attackaddiction.org
For social services or general referrals:
Delaware 2-1-1: 211 or www.delaware211.org
CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR
■ KARA ODOM WALKER, MD, MPH, MSHS
is a board-certified family physician and the Cabinet Secretary for the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services.
REFERENCES
1. Kogan MD et al. “Routine Assessment of Family and Community Health Risks: Parent Views and What They Receive.” Pediatrics, 2004 Jun; 113(6 Suppl):1934-1943.
2. Evans et al. “Overdose deaths in Delaware.” Division of Forensic Science 2017 Annual Report; 2017; page 17.
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