VIDEO: AG Moody Announces Promising Progress in Fight to End Opioid Crisis in Florida and Commends Law Enforcement Efforts to Save Lives

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-Attorney General Ashley Moody and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass today in Lake County released the latest Florida Medical Examiners Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons Report, showing a drastic drop in opioid-related deaths and a promising trend. The report is the fourth of its kind in two years showing a decrease in opioid-related deaths in Florida. The 11% drop in fentanyl occurrences in 2023 is much greater than the national average decrease of 2% during the same time period. Additionally, more recent provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a more than 17% decrease in drug overdose deaths in Florida. The Leesburg Medical Examiner District covering Citrus, Lake, Hernando, Marion and Sumter counties was even more dramatic, experiencing a 40% decrease in fentanyl-related deaths in 2023.

The statewide decrease can be partially attributed to increased efforts by Florida law enforcement fighting the opioid crisis. Florida leads the nation in fentanyl seizures. Access to life-saving medication, such as naloxone, is also helping reduce the death toll. Attorney General Moody provides free naloxone to first responders through the Helping Heroes program. The Lake County Sheriff's Office joined the Helping Heroes program today.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, "This is very encouraging news. Florida is fighting hard to stop the flow of Mexican fentanyl into our state. Law enforcement officers are on the front lines of this fight, and we are finding innovative ways to target fentanyl traffickers and rescue people who overdose - putting them on a path to recovery. However, far too many people continue to die preventable deaths, and we will continue fighting to put drug traffickers in prison and help people struggling with substance abuse find resources."

FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said, "Thanks to the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody, fentanyl deaths decreased dramatically across Florida, killing 660 fewer people in 2023. With the wide-open border, this is a hard-fought accomplishment. Thank you to our FDLE agents, analysts and local law enforcement partners whose boots on the ground investigations made this happen."

According to the report, Florida saw nearly 800 fewer opioid-related deaths in 2023 than the previous year. For that same time period nationwide, opioid overdose deaths only decreased by 2%. In addition to the significant decreases in fentanyl and opioid-related deaths, the Sunshine State also saw a 5% decrease in total drug-related deaths from 2022 to 2023.

Last year, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, neighboring Lake County and also within the Leesburg Medical Examiner District, recorded its largest fentanyl bust ever. CCSO seized more than 13 pounds of fentanyl - enough to kill more than 3 million people.

Some other districts with notable decreases in fentanyl deaths include the Florida Keys, Sanford, Gainesville and Fort Myers districts - all with decreases greater than 27%.

To view the 2023 Report, click here.

Combating the national opioid crisis claiming lives in Florida is one of Attorney General Moody's top priorities. Since her first day in office, Attorney General Moody has been exploring and implementing innovative ways to stop fentanyl trafficking and help users find recovery resources. From Florida's historic opioid litigation to promoting treatment options, Attorney General Moody is leading the charge.

During the first 100 days in office, Attorney General Moody:

• Chaired the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Drug Abuse to find strategic, holistic solutions to the opioid crisis;
• Assembled a statewide working group of experts to identify strategies and best practices for addressing the opioid crisis;
• Issued a strategic report for combating the opioid crisis called Florida's Opioid Epidemic: Recommendations and Best Practices;
• Personally appeared in court and advocated expediency necessary for trial in the state's opioid litigation to hold responsible the nation's largest opioid distributors, manufacturers and pharmacies;
• Secured a successful ruling denying the defendants' motions to dismiss the state's opioid litigation; and
• Pushed back against the loosening of opioid prescribing guidelines, requesting that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reverse a suggestion that medical providers rely on personal judgment instead of consulting evidence-based recommendations, including opioid prescription duration and dosage.

Since then, Attorney General Moody became the first to call for fentanyl to be declared a weapon of mass destruction. In 2022, Attorney General Moody called on the Biden administration to designate Mexican drug cartels foreign terrorists. Attorney General Moody also led the charge in the state's historic opioid litigation - securing billions to remediate and abate the impacts of the opioid crisis in Florida.

Actions taken by Attorney General Ashley Moody to combat fentanyl include the following:

• AG Moody Demands Biden to Classify Illicit Fentanyl a WMD
• AG Moody Leads Multistate Effort Calling on Biden to Rule Fentanyl a WMD
• Attorney General Moody Demands President Biden Declare Mexican Drug Cartels Terrorist Organizations
• Attorney General Moody Leads Multistate Effort Urging U.S. Senate to Promptly Pass Halt Fentanyl Act
• VIDEO: AG Moody Issues Emergency Rule Outlawing Eight Deadly Synthetic Opioids
• AG Moody Warns Floridians About Lethal Counterfeit Pills
• AG Moody Fights to Pass Fight Act
• VIDEO: Attorney General Moody Launches Helping Heroes to Provide Free Naloxone to Florida First Responders Now Through 2033
• 2022 National Recovery Month Kicks Off with Launch of Lifesaving Tool in Florida
• VIDEO: AG Moody Launches Dose of Reality Website
• 1PCK: AG Moody Releases Fast Facts on Fentanyl
• VIDEO: AG Moody Warns of Flesh-Eating Drug Mixed with Fentanyl
• Attorney General Moody Launches Hallway Heroes and Names 2023 School Resource Officer of the Year
• Attorney General Moody Launches Idle Time: A Summer Safety Series with a Warning About Fentanyl and Other Dangerous Drugs
• AG Moody Announces New Partnership with 211 to Combat Opioid Epidemic
• AG Moody Leads Effort to Extend Treatment of Opioids

Furthermore, Attorney General Moody supported legislative actions to address the opioid crisis. In 2023, alongside Gov. DeSantis, Attorney General Moody fought for passage of the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication Initiative - which grants money to law enforcement agencies to combat fentanyl. With $15 million allocated for SAFE grants, these investigations have resulted in law enforcement seizing more than 290 pounds of fentanyl - enough to kill more than 65 million people.

Since 2019, Attorney General Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution has charged 457 defendants in 58 fentanyl and/or opioid-related cases.

Go to DoseOfRealityFL.com for more information about the dangers of drugs or visit TreatmentAtlas.org if struggling with addiction.

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