These numbers in opioid crisis should scare you

Drug overdoses are now the leading killer of Americans under 50, driven largely by the opioid epidemic that is ravaging every state — and Florida and Manatee County are no exception.

A report issued last week shows more than 1.27 million hospital emergency room visits or inpatient visits linked to opioids in 2014, with emergency room visits nearly doubling in the last decade. Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency last month, unlocking $27 million in federal funds for prevention, treatment and recovery services.

Manatee and Sarasota lawmakers were key in crafting bills attacking the crisis.

Scott just signed into law a key bill — sponsored by Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, and Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota — that aims to attack the crisis by toughening punishments for opioid drug dealers.

House Bill 477 targets drug dealers by creating and enhancing penalties for dealers and traffickers of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, a drug 50 times stronger than heroin, and its derivatives.

The bipartisan legislation targets drug dealers who distribute fentanyl or synthetic forms of the drug, clearing the way for them to be charged with murder if their customers die from an overdose.

Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl and carfentanyl — a drug 10,000 times more potent than morphine — are cut into other drugs or sold as heroin.

The law is also the result of a comprehensive effort by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Attorney General’s office, the Florida Sheriff’s Association and scientists and chemists to ensure the language addresses the issues law enforcement and the courts have faced, the Herald has reported.

“With this legislation and the declaration of a Public Health Emergency, we are taking great strides in our fight to end opioid abuse. I will continue to work with the Governor, the Legislature and state and local partners to address this issue and save the lives of Floridians,” Boyd stated.

Said Steube: “For too many years, the opioid epidemic has devastated families across the state and this legislation is a major step in our battle against this deadly epidemic. By passing this bill, Florida is sending a strong message to drug dealers that their deadly actions will not be tolerated in our state.”

The study released last week focused on 2014 — a year before cases began to skyrocket in Manatee County, meaning the numbers are only getting worse. The sharpest increase in hospitalization and emergency room treatment for opioids was among people ages 25 to 44. The data also show that women are now as likely as men to be admitted to a hospital for inpatient treatment for opioid-related problems, the Washington Post reported.

As the death toll mounts, even more focus and funding should be directed toward saving those with addictions. During this month’s special legislative session, Sen. Kevin Rader, D-Delray Beach, made a fervent plea for more action on the treatment front: “This crisis affects every person in the state of Florida. They know someone — their family member, a friend. It is devastating our communities, and we must do something and act next session.”

Up to 65,000 Estimated total deaths nationwide from drug overdoses in 2016

8.2% Increase in death rate among young adults nationally from 2010 to 2015 after decades of declines

10,784 Estimated number of Florida overdose deaths in 2016

139.5% Increase in Florida deaths caused by fentanyl in the first six months of 2016 compared to the first six months of 2015

23% Statewide increase in deaths caused by prescription drugs from 2014 to 2015. Data for the first half of 2016 suggests a continued increase, six years after the peak of Florida’s pill mill crisis

103% Increase in fentanyl-related deaths from 2014 to 2015 in Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties

24% Increase in heroin-related deaths from 2014 to 2015 in Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto

60% Increase in cocaine-related deaths from 2014 to 2015 in Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties

- A version of this editorial first appeared in the Tampa Bay Times.

This story was originally published June 24, 2017 at 3:50 PM with the headline "These numbers in opioid crisis should scare you."