fentanyl overdoses

According to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report, total drug-related deaths, opioid-caused deaths and deaths caused by fentanyl were all down in the first half of 2023.

In Hillsborough, health officials offered the overdose reversal drug to people who stopped by their Tampa office. Other counties recognized the day with education on recognizing overdoses and saving lives.

"The Fentanyl Project," which focuses on two families dealing with the losses of loved ones, highlights how counterfeit prescription pills are causing fentanyl deaths to skyrocket. We talk with the director.

Illegal supplies of fentanyl are being cut with xylazine, a powerful horse tranquilizer. Overdoses involving this veterinary sedative are growing nationally and now Florida officials are tracking the deaths.

The researchers found that between 2020 and 2022, the percentage of overdose deaths with evidence of smoking rose 74%. Meanwhile, the percentage of deaths with evidence of injection fell 29%.

Scholars fear that cartels will find new synthetic drugs — that may be even deadlier. Their solution: Better prevention and treatment programs.

District officials announced the development last week as they launched a countywide awareness campaign around the deadly risks of fentanyl.

As in other states, including Florida, California officials are stepping up efforts to combat the spread of xylazine, a powerful animal sedative that’s increasingly being used by people, often with devastating results

A Florida police department says Narcan saved an officer suffering an overdose. Other cops regularly report being poisoned while encountering trace amounts of fentanyl. Some researchers have doubts.

The Florida Department of Health has issued thousands of free Narcan kits but is still trying to make more available to the public.