With overdose deaths from heroin and other opioids dramatically increasing in Palm Beach County, Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, will hold a roundtable discussion next month to delve into the problems.
Sen. Kevin Rader, a Delray Beach Democrat who has been outspoken about the need to address the opioid issue, and Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay invited Latvala to come to Palm Beach County, according to a news release from Latvala's office.
“Opioid abuse is a crisis facing our entire state,” Latvala, who is considering a run for governor in 2018, said in a prepared statement. “It's costing lives and money. In fact, Florida hospital charges related to the heroin epidemic top $4 million a day. But the crisis seems to be affecting Palm Beach County more than many other parts of the state with more than 300 opioid overdoses in Palm Beach County already this year.”
The roundtable is scheduled Aug. 8 at Palm Beach State College.
