FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Media Contact:
Jonah Anderson
[email protected]

DOVER, Del. - Governor Matt Meyer today signed Senate Bill 249 alongside Executive Order 28 directing the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services to implement the state's new harm reduction framework through evidence-based regulations, a deliberate phased approach, continuous evaluation, and strong public health and safety standards.

Senate Bill 249, sponsored by Senator Marie Pinkney and Representative Nnamdi Chukwuocha, establishes a statutory framework for the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to license and regulate harm reduction programs. The legislation builds on harm reduction services already operating in Delaware and expands access to interventions designed to reduce overdose deaths, prevent disease, connect people with treatment and ultimately save lives.

At the same time, Governor Meyer signed an executive order providing clear guardrails around how the new law will be implemented. The order requires medically informed regulations, measurable outcomes, phased implementation, ongoing consultation with public health and public safety stakeholders and continuous evaluation to ensure the policy achieves its intended results.

"Evidence-based harm reduction saves lives and can be an important pathway to treatment and recovery," said Governor Matt Meyer. "We also have a responsibility to ensure public safety and the health of our most vulnerable. By signing this bill alongside an executive order establishing strong, medically informed standards, we can expand what works, measure the results and make adjustments when the evidence tells us they are needed."
Delaware has already made significant progress in reducing overdose deaths. Accidental drug intoxication deaths declined from 527 in 2023 to 314 in 2025, a reduction of more than 40%. The administration's approach is designed to build on that progress while responding to an illicit drug supply that continues to change rapidly.

Under the executive order, DHSS will begin by prioritizing existing syringe services and other interventions with an established evidence base, including naloxone distribution, infectious disease screening, drug-checking supplies, wound care, overdose education, safe disposal and connections to treatment, housing and other services.

For components where the evidence is still emerging, the executive order establishes additional safeguards. Any subsequent expansion of state funding for those supplies will require a written determination from the secretary of DHSS that the preceding phase produced positive public health results without significant unintended harm.

The order also requires DHSS to establish clear baseline measurements and track outcomes, including overdoses, infectious disease transmission, connections to treatment and recovery, emergency department utilization, community safety, improper disposal of equipment and youth exposure or diversion.

DHSS must report its findings to the Governor within 12 months after regulations take effect and at least annually thereafter. The findings will be made publicly available in aggregate, de-identified form and will include recommendations on whether the program should be continued, modified or expanded.

The executive order also requires ongoing consultation with law enforcement, the Delaware Department of Justice, public health and public safety stakeholders. If strong evidence shows that a program component within DHSS's authority is contributing to increased overdose deaths, infectious disease transmission or other identified harms, the department must pause, modify or discontinue that component and recommend corrective action.

Senate Bill 249 also changes Delaware law regarding personal-use drug paraphernalia. Because those provisions are established in statute, the executive order requires DHSS to evaluate their effects annually. If strong evidence shows the changes are contributing to executive order establishing strong, medically informed standards, we can expand what works, measure the results and make adjustments when the evidence tells us they are needed."

Delaware has already made significant progress in reducing overdose deaths. Accidental drug intoxication deaths declined from 527 in 2023 to 314 in 2025, a reduction of more than 40%. The administration's approach is designed to build on that progress while responding to an illicit drug supply that continues to change rapidly.

Under the executive order, DHSS will begin by prioritizing existing syringe services and other interventions with an established evidence base, including naloxone distribution, infectious disease screening, drug-checking supplies, wound care, overdose education, safe disposal and connections to treatment, housing and other services.

For components where the evidence is still emerging, the executive order establishes additional safeguards. Any subsequent expansion of state funding for those supplies will require a written determination from the secretary of DHSS that the preceding phase produced positive public health results without significant unintended harm.

The order also requires DHSS to establish clear baseline measurements and track outcomes, including overdoses, infectious disease transmission, connections to treatment and recovery, emergency department utilization, community safety, improper disposal of equipment and youth exposure or diversion.

DHSS must report its findings to the Governor within 12 months after regulations take effect and at least annually thereafter. The findings will be made publicly available in aggregate, de-identified form and will include recommendations on whether the program should be continued, modified or expanded.

The executive order also requires ongoing consultation with law enforcement, the Delaware Department of Justice, public health and public safety stakeholders. If strong evidence shows that a program component within DHSS's authority is contributing to increased overdose deaths, infectious disease transmission or other identified harms, the department must pause, modify or discontinue that component and recommend corrective action.

Senate Bill 249 also changes Delaware law regarding personal-use drug paraphernalia. Because those provisions are established in statute, the executive order requires DHSS to evaluate their effects annually. If strong evidence shows the changes are contributing to increased disease transmission or deaths, DHSS must advise the Governor and recommend appropriate action, including potential legislative changes.