United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DEWEY BEACH, Del. - Special Agent in Charge Gary Tuggle of the Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) Philadelphia Field Division announced today the publication of a statewide drug report for Delaware.  The report, entitled The Drug Situation in Delaware, is the first comprehensive report of its kind for Delaware. 

The DEA Philadelphia Field Division’s Intelligence Program analyzed the following indicators in this report: illicit drug and diverted pharmaceutical availability, drug prices and purity, fatal drug-related overdoses, naloxone administrations, Delaware’s Prescription Monitoring Program data, and drug abuse treatment admissions.

Heroin poses the greatest threat in Delaware, with the availability of and demand for illicit and prescription opioid drugs also of concern.  Delaware’s proximity to Philadelphia, which serves as a source of supply for inexpensive and pure heroin, makes the population of Delaware vulnerable to addiction, overdose, and the violence commonly associated with drug trafficking.

The report provides data on the number of drug-related overdose deaths in Delaware between 2012, when there were 172 deaths, and 2015, when there were 228 deaths.  Prescription drugs and heroin were the drugs most commonly responsible for fatal overdoses. 

“Drug-related overdose deaths are increasing nationwide.  It is important for the public to maintain awareness of the drugs of abuse in the communities that we serve,” said Tuggle.  “Deaths that result from the abuse or misuse of illicit street drugs and diverted pharmaceuticals are of particular interest to the DEA and our law enforcement partners, as they reflect the most malicious way the illegal drug trade damages and destroys lives.” 

The full report is available on DEA.gov. Questions regarding this report may be addressed to DEA Field Intelligence Manager Laura A. Hendrick (215) 861-3258 or .