Beebe Healthcare is raising the alarm over the spike in overdose admissions in more than 30 people

LEWES, Del. – Beebe Hospital officials have joined the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and the Department of Health Services in raising the alarm following a string of 50 overdoses reported in Sussex County in five days, including 30 on Beebe’s campus in Lewes.

“It is important to let the community know how dangerous this drug is. And even this newer kind of drug formulation, and why they should actually think twice about just one of them Narcanversus two Narcanversus even three Narcan,” said Dr. David Tam, CEO of Beebe, warned that more Narcan was needed to revive patients and restore normal breathing compared to a normal dose.

Officials say it’s the size of the spike and the symptoms that concern them.

“This pattern of overdoses and the frequency of overdoses is what stands out. And the length of time before patients regain a level of alertness varies. So that’s the change. And that’s what requires hospitalization. Unknown Admission to intensive care and ongoing care,” said medical director Dr. Rob Rosenbaum of Delaware EMS.

These patients had more severe attacks and required ventilation to restore breathing, with a lot of rwhich requires a long stay in the ICU.

In response, The Delaware The Department of Substance and Mental Health has announced that there will be an additional one 1,300 Nmysterious, kits go through community partners, with another 200 doses on the way to Beebe Hopital.

DSAM says drug users should also take extra precautions.

“IIt is so important to never use it alone. It’s heartbreaking to read obituaries of a patient who had that Narcan right next to them, but because they were using alone, there was no one to save their lives,” said DSAM director Joanna Champney.

DSAM hopes that for those who are now recovering at Beebe, this will be theirs wake up call, and wants use the moment to start a new path.

“When you come out of a non-fatal overdose, there is an opportunity to think about: am I ready for change, is this the time for me, exactly when, if I go into treatment, maybe for the first time,” Champney.