On Tuesday, elected officials from both sides of the aisle took steps to help Central Florida crack down on opioids.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and religious and business leaders met at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando as part of “Project Opioid.”
“We need to do everything in our power to roll back the devastating effect the opioid epidemic has had on our state,” said Gov. DeSantis. “In our Bold Vision for a Brighter Future Budget, we have nearly $2 billion in substance abuse prevention and mental health funding. Specifically, more than $123 million in funding was appropriated to help fight the opioid epidemic. Across our state, we’ve seen too many lives turned upside down and cut short by this epidemic. My administration will continue to prioritize this difficult issue.
“Partnering with our faith-based and community partners who know the needs of their citizens is key to achieving positive outcomes,” said Casey DeSantis. “As chair of the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet and through our Hope for Healing Florida campaign, we will continue to press forward to find real, workable and measurable approaches to help families.”
The governor’s office noted he signed an executive order in June creating the Office of Drug Control. The federal government also sent $26 million for Florida’s State Opioid Response Project “which is designed to address the opioid crisis by reducing opioid deaths, preventing opioid abuse among young people, and increasing recovery services and access to treatment.”
Also on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is sending almost $500,000 to the University of Central Florida (UCF) to help fight opioids.
“The funds will be used by the university to train a new generation of professionals involved in prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts. There are an estimated 2.1 million Americans addicted to opioids, typically to prescription painkillers,” Murphy’s office noted.
“It breaks my heart to see communities all across Florida and the country be devastated by the opioid epidemic,” said Murphy. “These funds will help stem the alarming rise in opioid overdoses in central Florida, and to recruit an army of professionals that will enhance prevention and treatment efforts and save lives.”
“UCF has been deeply involved with community efforts to fight the opioid epidemic,” said Pamela “Sissi” Carroll, the dean of UCF’s College of Community Innovation and Education. “Through the support of this grant, the ‘UCF-Aspire Counselor Training Program in Integrated Care for Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders’ will train new mental health professionals who will be dedicated to working with individuals, couples and families throughout central Florida to fight the epidemic now and in the future.”
