Casey DeSantis Visits Gadsden County After Wave of Fentanyl Deaths, Statewide Health Advisory Announced
July 7, 2022 Updated 6:00 P.M. ET
QUINCY (FLV) – First Lady Casey DeSantis visited Gadsden County after a reported wave of fentanyl overdose deaths bombarded the county over the holiday weekend.
Casey DeSantis will work with the Department of Health to launch a statewide public messaging advisory to warn people about the dangers of fentanyl. Fentanyl is the leading cause of death in the United States for people 18 to 45.
“It is primarily being manufactured in China and pouring across our southern border. It is imperative that Floridians know the risks and understand that just two milligrams can be lethal,” DeSantis said.
The advisory will focus on prevention and recovery resources for overdoses involving synthetic opioids. The primary focus will be on fentanyl. There are pills laced with fentanyl that the DeSantis Administration has tried to warn people about.
“Stopping drug dealers and helping Floridians overcome the challenges of addiction and preventing overdose deaths is a significant priority for us all,” DeSantis said.
The Florida Department of Children and Families will deploy more than 200 Narcan kits to treat overdoses in the county. Emergency responders can also receive free Narcan through the Department of Health.
“I would like to thank the Governor and the First Lady for their support regarding the Public Health and Safety Crisis Gadsden County is experiencing,” said Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young.
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said more than 6,150 people died from overdoses involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in 2020.
“While substance use disorder is a chronic disease that requires clinical oversight, the fentanyl crisis requires us to be all hands on deck across communities — and that is exactly what we are doing,” said Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation in May to crack down on the distribution of fentanyl and increase penalties for those dealing in Florida.
The mandatory minimum sentence for trafficking fentanyl was increased from 3 to 7 years for 4-14 grams, and from 15 to 20 years for 14-28 grams. However, the law does not take effect until October of 2022.
“If you are dealing fentanyl, you are killing people and you are going to be put in jail,” Governor DeSantis said.
A new strike force was formed with $12 million Florida lawmakers approved in the budget. The strike force will combat illegal drug smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal firearm smuggling.
Just in the first three days, law enforcement found enough fentanyl on smugglers, 4 grams, to kill 2,000 Floridians.
“The safety of Florida’s citizens and visitors is paramount to FDLE, and illicit deadly drugs like fentanyl do not have a place within safe communities,” said FDLE Acting Commissioner Mark Glass. “When FDLE conducts drug investigations, our goal is always to take down the entire organization.”
