Earlier today, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma held a press conference to announce that the operator of a drug rehab facility in Altamonte Springs had been arrested for selling fentanyl to patients. Operator Misty Leigh Gilley has been charged with multiple counts related to the distribution and possession of fentanyl and other controlled substances.
Last month, State Senator Jason Brodeur (R-Sanford) filed Senate Bill 190, Controlled Substances, to protect Floridians with substance abuse disorders while they receive treatment at a drug treatment facility. The bill would enhance penalties for the sale or distribution of controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a drug treatment clinic, recovery residence, or any facility that provides treatment to those recovering from substance abuse disorders. For fentanyl, the penalty would be increased from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony.
“This bill is about protecting our communities ¬– especially those in recovery – from opportunistic criminals who prey on patients in their time of greatest need,” said Senator Brodeur. “So far this year, Seminole County has had 707 overdoses and 105 overdose deaths related to fentanyl and other drugs. With the crushing emotional and physical toll of COVID-19 on our communities, there has never been a more important time to act and to fight back with those who see this pandemic as nothing more than an opportunity to prey on the sick.”
In 2020, Florida’s Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse recommended that the legislature address the sale of controlled substances within sober homes by corrupt operators and employees. While sober homes and other treatment facilities can be a place of recovery for many, there is an abundance of evidence that drug dealers are targeting those seeking treatment within a facility. Senate Bill 190 would target these dealers and enhance protections for members of our community who are in recovery.
The bill is supported by Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma and by the Florida Sheriffs Association. Representative Scott Plakon (R-Lake Mary) has filed companion legislation in the Florida House.
