Here is Gov. Scott’s Press Release Declaring Statewide Public Health Emergency for Opiate Epidemic
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declaring a national opiate epidemic, Governor Rick Scott signed Executive Order 17-146 directing a Public Health Emergency across the state. By signing the Emergency Order, it will allow the state to immediately draw down more than $27 million in federal grant funding from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Opioid State Targeted Response Grant which was awarded to Florida on April 21 to provide prevention, treatment and recovery support services. Without the order, it would have taken months for the state to distribute these funds to local communities. In addition to declaring a Public Health Emergency, Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip will issue a standing order for Naloxone, an emergency treatment for opiate overdose. This will ensure emergency professionals have immediate access to this lifesaving drug to respond to opiate overdoses.
Governor Scott said, “Today, I issued an executive order which allows the state to immediately draw down more than $27 million in federal grant funding which will immediately be distributed to communities across the state to deal with the opiate epidemic. HHS Secretary Dr. Tom Price awarded the Opioid State Targeted Response Grant to Florida and I want to thank the Trump Administration for their focus on this national epidemic. I have also directed State Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip to declare a Public Health Emergency and issue a standing order for Naloxone in response to the opiate epidemic in Florida.
Drug Rehabs in Florida Unite to Fight Epidemic
LHe also said, “Last month, I directed the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Department of Health (DOH) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to meet with communities in Palm Beach, Manatee, Duval, and Orange Counties to identify additional strategies to fight the rising opiate usage cases in Florida. They have gotten a lot of feedback this week and we will continue to look at additional ways we can fight this national epidemic which has taken the lives of many Floridians.” One of the biggest areas of focus is medication assisted treatment or MAT. This has statistically proven to save lives.
“I know firsthand how heartbreaking substance abuse can be to a family because it impacted my own family growing up. The individuals struggling with drug use are sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and friends and each tragic case leaves loved ones searching for answers and praying for help. Families across our nation are fighting the opioid epidemic and Florida is going to do everything possible to help our communities.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “This declaration will help strengthen our continued efforts to combat the national opioid epidemic claiming lives in Florida by providing additional funding to secure prevention, treatment and recovery support services. I want to thank Governor Rick Scott for his continued partnership in combating drug abuse in our state; from shutting down pill mills to outlawing deadly synthetic drugs, Governor Scott has long supported efforts by my office and law enforcement to raise awareness, stop drug abuse and save lives.”
On the top of this list of fighting the opiate epidemic is the use of Narcan. This is used to reverse an opiate overdose. This is one of the most valuable tools we have to save lives. We are losing 150 lives per day. Many of these could be prevented with the use of this drug. If we can revive individuals, the hope is they will go to a opiate detox center and begin the addiction treatment process.
See the Executive Order and Public Health Emergency here.
Behavioral health thought leaders have been attending addiction conferences to get better educated on the drug rehab marketing changes. Other government leaders have been pushing legislation fighting the epidemic reducing the gray, illegal operating areas of treatment centers and sober living facilities. Dave Aronberg, Florida State Attorney, and Al Johnson, Asst. State Attorney have put an army of law enforcement in place closing down operators who are participating in illegal patient brokering and putting many lives in danger. They have also been the driving force for tighter laws by pursuing legislation that protects those seeking treatment, and those in treatment.
These key players fighting the epidemic are making changes to industry marketing and operating regulations with House Bill 807, and 65D30. All industry Executives “Need to Know” the extreme changes that are coming, get involved now, be prepared for the changes about to occur, and get educated on ethical business practices.
You can speak with 5 Thought Leader Addiction Panelists on the coming changes to our industry including Asst. State Attorney, Al Johnson in an open Town Hall Forum on the Sober Homes Task Force on how it was formed, where it is now, and what’s in the future. Get the landscape of the legislative changes coming from the Director of Special Projects at Palm Beach County Substance Awareness Coalition and the groundbreaking work they are doing in re-molding the Administrative and Marketing Changes that are coming soon.
