August marked Delaware's deadliest month on record for drug-related overdoses, claiming 39 lives in 31 days, according to the state health department.
The closest any previous month has ever come to August's death toll was earlier this year in April with 27 deaths.
The numbers mark a sad reality for the state, which daily responds to dozens of calls for drug overdoses. On Monday, Gov. John Carney signed into effect three different bills aimed at curbing the opioid epidemic and creating a better response to drug overdoses.
"It's very hard sometimes to remain encouraged and optimistic that there's something that we can do to help combat this," said Rep. David Bentz, noting the constant loss of life – about one person a day – due to the heroin and opioid epidemic.
But these new bills, one of which will create the nation's first Overdose System of Care that will span the state, give advocates and state leaders hope that the public health crisis can be stemmed here.