First for Friday, March 20, 2015

New Expectations

We begin with how the Delaware Department of Correction is changing the approach to addressing addiction and recidivism among female inmates who are pregnant and struggling with addiction. Here’s our First Look.

First Person

Del. Attorney General Matt Denn and Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf are in our First studio this week. We look at drug addiction in Delaware and how the AG’s office and Social Services are dealing with the issue.

Ocean View and Narcan

Narcan has been proven as an effective treatment in dealing with heroin overdose cases on an emergency basis. To date there is only one department using the drug, the tiny Sussex County community of Ocean View.

Delaware Today

The use of Narcan in Ocean View is just one of the stories written this month in Delaware Today Magazine. Mark Nardone wrote the story for Delaware Today and joins us to discuss John Dooling, a recovering heroin addict we profiled on First last fall.

Attack Addiction

Attack Addiction is a resource and support group for families plagued by addiction. It was started by the Keister family, who lost their son Tyler to an accidental overdose. Don Keister is here, along with Dave Humes who sits on the Attack Addiction Board of Directors, he lost his son Greg to addiction as well.

Heroin Alert

Everyone during this program has spoken of the need for more awareness of the heroin issue. Our final story on First this week is about educating the public. Over time there have been programs dealing with alcohol and tobacco use, all the way up to marijuana and cocaine. New Castle County wants to target the middle class in their heroin education efforts.