DATE: August 25, 2017
CONTACT: Kimberly Maroe
Public Information Manager, Broward Commission
PHONE: 954-357-8053
EMAIL: kmaroe@broward.org
BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Methods to reduce the escalating use of opioids and assist those who are addicts was the topic of discussion as Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief hosted an Opioid Epidemic Town Hall meeting held on Thursday. In the first six months of this year 282 people have died of drug related overdoses in Broward County. In 2016 there were 582 deaths as numbers doubled at the end of year when new potent synthetic drugs such as flakka and fentanyl flooded into South Florida. Heroin use also drastically increased.
"I've brought together a team of experts to discuss this epidemic that is killing people and ruining the lives of users, their families and children. A continued dialogue allows us to determine where these drugs are coming from, why they are resulting in an unprecedented number of deaths and help us move forward to combat this epidemic using all of our available resources," said Mayor Sharief.
More than 200 people attended the town hall meeting in Pembroke Pines. Panelists included Dr. Craig T. Mallak, MD, JD, Chief, Office of the Medical Examiner and Trauma Services, Broward County; Dr. Gary Kunsman, Chief Toxicologist, Broward County; Jim Hall, Senior Epidemiologist Center for Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities, Nova Southeastern University; Donald Maines, Substance Research and Program Manager, Broward Sheriff's Office; Heather Davidson, Director, Public Policy and Advocacy, United Way of Broward County; Dr. Dale Fahie, BARC Medical Director; Silvia Quintana, CEO Broward Behavioral Health Coalition and Florida Senator Kevin J. Radar. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Broward Vice Mayor Beam Furr and Commissioner Michael Udine were also in attendance.
"Medical examiner offices across the country are overwhelmed by the opioid crisis, as they would be in any epidemic. Despite an increased case load, our medical examiner team in Broward County is committed to treating all individuals with dignity, and giving each case the proper attention. Meanwhile, a number of other County agencies and community partners are aggressively pursuing public education and outreach efforts to prevent these senseless deaths from occurring at all," said Dr. Mallak.
Experts noted that drugs such as heroin are much more potent and deadly when combined with synthetic drugs that are frequently changed in illicit laboratories and/or imported from other countries. Statewide data shows opioids as the direct cause or a contributing factor in 3,896 deaths in 2015.
Treatment centers such as the Broward Addiction and Recovery Center (BARC) are employing new methods to treat opioid addicts who statistically have 90% relapse rates.
Earlier this year, Broward Commissioners adopted a resolution supporting federal and state efforts to reduce the overprescribing of opioid medications and measures to strengthen prescription drug monitoring systems. The resolution supported the efforts of the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Justice and the National City-County Task Force on the Opioid Epidemic and the Governor's order directing a Public Health Emergency across the state.
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