Eleven people have died of suspected drug overdoses since Wednesday, driving Delaware's death toll to 215 for the year, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services.
The deaths, which spanned all counties and genders, occurred as many families and friends gathered together for the Thanksgiving holiday, a time that can pull on the vulnerabilities of those suffering from addiction, said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, secretary of the state Department of Health and Social Services.
“The holidays can be stressful and may be a trigger point for people struggling with substance use disorder," Walker said. "The most important thing that families can do is to help their loved ones find a connection to treatment and to get them to that initial intake.”
There doesn't appear to be a connection between the deaths, as has been the case in previous spikes this year. In those cases, state officials pointed to specific brands or stamped packages of heroin that were particularly potent.