Ashley Moody highlights initiatives, dangers of illicit opioids during inaugural Revive Awareness Day
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody joined local health officials in Seminole County Thursday to recognize the state’s first Revive Awareness Day, which brings attention to opioid misuse and the importance of naloxone to save lives.
“Revive Awareness Day shines a light on the dangers of opioid misuse and the power of naloxone to save lives. One year ago, we launched Helping Heroes as part of our historic multibillion dollar opioid litigation efforts to provide first responders access to free naloxone at more than 100 participating locations throughout the state,” Moody said.
During its opening, Moody announced increased participation in Helping Heroes. The program provides free naloxone, a drug that reverses opioid overdoses, to first responders in the state. Created last year, the initiative offers the potentially life saving drug at 106 Walmart stores and has 100 state agencies participating.
Helping Heroes was funded in part through Moody’s opioid litigation efforts in 2022. The initiative has raised more than $3 billion in abatement efforts for the state.
According to Moody’s office, more than 100,000 Americans have died annually from drug overdoses in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also mentioned 7,000 Floridians died from drug overdoses in 2023.
Combating the problem, Moody’s office noted Florida leads the nation in fentanyl seizures. Moody also shared a report indicating more than 115 million counterfeit prescription pills were seized containing Mexican fentanyl in 2023, enough to kill every American.
A drug enforcement study also claimed seven out of 10 seven counterfeit prescription pills seized included a lethal dose of fentanyl.
Looking to raise awareness on its deadly consequence, Moody stressed to Floridians that just “one pill can kill.” She also launched a One Pill Can Kill webpage to raise awareness about illicit fentanyl being mixed with other illicit substances like cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines.
