SANFORD, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday morning held a news conference in Central Florida to ceremonially sign legislation aimed at fighting the opioid epidemic.
DeSantis signed Senate Bill 718 which will result in criminal penalties for adults who, in the course of unlawfully possessing specified controlled substances, recklessly expose a first responder to such substances and an overdose or serious bodily injury of the first responder results.
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DeSantis said past legislation, including penalties for opioid dealers and policy aimed at securing the border, has helped in the ongoing opioid epidemic.
“Overdose deaths across Florida are now on the decline,” DeSantis said.
Data shows a 9% decrease — 557 fewer deaths — from September 2022 to September 2023, compared to the previous year’s statewide count, DeSantis said.
The amount of emergency medical service responses for suspected overdoses also fell by 607, 3% reduction, DeSantis said.
In Duval County, there were 176 fewer calls for suspected overdoses from Jan. 2023 until June 2023 when compared to the previous year.
Part of the reason, according to DeSantis, was the introduction of the Coordinated Opioid Recovery Network (CORE), which launched in 2022. The network aims to eliminate the stigma of addiction and treat substance use disorder as a disease, with the same level of continuous care. Floridians battling with addiction can utilize CORE for stabilization and to receive medication-assisted treatment from a network of specialized medical experts that will help guide them on a sustained pathway to healthy success.
CORE providers have responded to nearly 18,000 emergency calls which resulted in a life saved through the administration of naloxone.
(To find help and resources, please visit the CORE Network website by clicking here.)