Attorney General Bondi announces efforts to fight opioid crisis

Attorney General Pam Bondi today announced continued efforts in the fight against opioid abuse. Joined by Governor Rick Scott, law enforcement and first responders, Attorney General Bondi announced an agreement to lower the cost of life-saving medicine to treat overdose victims and highlighted legislation to further the fight against opioid abuse.
“With today’s agreement, those who are on the front line of the opioid epidemic will have easier access to medicine to save lives that may otherwise be lost to drug overdose,” said Attorney General Bondi. “From lawmakers to law enforcement and paramedics to doctors, we must continue to work together to tackle this epidemic that is claiming lives every day. I want to thank Adapt Pharma and Amphastar for helping us save lives.”
Governor Scott said, “Growing up, substance abuse was something that impacted my own family and I know firsthand what a heartbreaking burden this can be on families who have to deal with this. One death caused by substance abuse is one too many, and today I have directed the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to travel the state and hear directly from communities on what resources they need to help with this growing problem. Opioid abuse is happening across our nation and it is crucial that we hear what our local communities are doing to fight the rising use of opioids and how we as the state can continue to help. I look forward to continuing to work with Attorney General Bondi and our federal, state and local partners to ensure our communities have the resources they need in their fight against opioid use.”
Starting today, Adapt Pharma and Amphastar will offer Narcan and Naloxone at a discounted rate when bought in bulk by police, first responders, governmental entities and community-based organizations in Florida.
Attorney General Bondi is also supporting legislation this session that will help better equip law enforcement, prosecutors and the state with new tools to further address the opioid crisis. HB 477 will add Fentanyl and other deadly synthetic drugs to Florida’s drug trafficking statute, giving state prosecutors the ability to seek stronger sentences against drug traffickers selling these deadly drugs in Florida.
Additionally, Attorney General Bondi is supporting legislation to address issues with sober homes. HB 807 and SB 788 will create a certification program for sober homes and expands the authority of the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution to prosecute patient brokering offenses.
Since 2014, working with local, state and federal law enforcement, the Office of Statewide Prosecution has charged 148 people with heroin trafficking related charges. Attorney General Bondi will continue efforts with state and local law enforcement partners and looks forward to participating in the statewide workshops with the Governor’s office and state agency representatives to explore and identify additional strategies to address this opioid crisis.