Florida DOH to provide naloxone to county health departments to reduce substance abuse deaths

Florida Department of Health (DOH)

On International Overdose Awareness Day, August 31, 2022, the Florida Department of Health announced an initiative to ensure readily available access to naloxone (commonly known by the brand name, Narcan), a lifesaving medication that could reduce thousands of substance abuse death, through its 67 county health departments. Naloxone reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, restoring breathing and consciousness within minutes of being administered to a person who has overdosed.

Increasing access to naloxone is a key component in battling the opioid epidemic, especially in rural areas or counties with limited access to health care. Providing naloxone through county health departments will increase support to individuals across the state dealing with substance use disorder and help prevent overdose deaths in Florida.

“Addressing the opioid epidemic is a top priority for the state,” said Deputy Secretary for Health Dr. Kenneth A. Scheppke. “In 2021, almost 8,000 people in Florida lost their lives to drug overdoses, the highest one-year total ever recorded in our state.”

This expansion of access to naloxone is a result of collaboration with the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) through the Overdose Prevention Program, or iSaveFL, which facilitates the distribution of naloxone kits to families, friends, and caregivers of those at risk for an opioid overdose. These naloxone kits consist of two naloxone nasal sprays that can be administered even without a health care professional present. For details of the iSaveFL program, visit www.isavefl.com/find-naloxone.shtml.

This effort complements the Florida Department of Health’s HEROS (Helping Emergency Responders Obtain Support) program that provides free naloxone to emergency response agencies. Learn about the HEROS program here: www.floridahealth.gov/licensing-and-regulation/ems-system/heros.html.

“The iSaveFL website provides information on finding naloxone in your community, as well as resources on treatment, overdose education and prevention,” said County Health Systems Statewide Medical Director Dr. Ulyee Choe. "A big part of this initiative will be educating the community and working with partners to address the opioid epidemic.”

Through the initial phase of this initiative, 16 county health departments (Baker, Bradford, Union, Franklin, Gulf, Gadsden, Gilcrest, Levy, Glades, Hendry, Hamilton, Hardee Jefferson, Madison, Lafayette, and Suwanee) received 1,500 naloxone kits. The next phase of this initiative will expand naloxone distribution to all 67 county health departments in Florida.

This initiative is part of the state’s response to the overdose crisis. In August, Florida launched the Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) program – the first of its kind in the nation – to provide comprehensive and sustainable care to those affected by substance use disorder. Learn more about the CORE program here: www.flgov.com/2022/08/03/governor-ron-desantis-announces-new-opioid-recovery-program-in-florida.

A public health and safety alert was also deployed by the Florida Department of Health on July 8, 2022 to ensure that Floridians remain vigilant of the signs of overdose and know how to respond. For details, visit: content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDOH/bulletins/31fd612.

If you have questions regarding overdoses and drug-related exposures, Florida’s Poison Control Centers are a valuable resource to people, including emergency personne. Poison Control Centers are staffed by health care professionals specifically trained to provide assistance in treating drug overdoses or assessing patients exposed to drugs of abuse. Medical toxicologists are available 24/7 for physician consultations. For poisoning questions or emergencies, call Florida’s Poison Control Centers toll-free number at 1-800-222-1222 or visit its website at FloridaPoisonControl.org.