Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday aimed to address the state’s opioid epidemic by increasing penalties for exposing police to fentanyl and raising awareness about life-saving measures for opioid overdoses. signed two bills.
DeSantis, a Republican, signed Senate Bill 718 and Senate Bill 66 at a press conference at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Professional Development Center in Sanford, Florida.
“With the Biden administration’s reluctance to secure our southern border, law enforcement officers are encountering fentanyl at alarming rates,” DeSantis said. “Today, I am signing legislation to ensure police officer safety on the job and further combat the opioid epidemic.”
Senate Bill 718 would make it a second-degree felony for an adult to unlawfully possess fentanyl while recklessly exposing a first responder to the substance, resulting in an overdose or serious injury.
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DeSantis, a Republican, signed Senate Bill 718 and Senate Bill 66 at a press conference at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Professional Development Center in Sanford, Florida. (Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images)
The law also expands the law’s protections for people who seek medical assistance in good faith when they believe they or someone they know is experiencing an alcohol- or drug-related overdose.
Senate Bill 66 would designate June 6 as Revive Awareness Day in the Sunshine State. This legislation would require the Florida Department of Health to increase awareness of the dangers of opioid overdose and the availability and safe use of opioid reversals to quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. We instruct them to do so every year.
The law, also known as Victoria’s Law, is named after Victoria Siegel, an 18-year-old girl who died of a fatal overdose of heroin and antidepressants in 2015. She was the daughter of Florida tycoon David Siegel.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday signed two bills aimed at addressing the opioid epidemic. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
DeSantis also announced that the Coordinating Opioid Recovery Network (CORE) has been established from 12 Florida counties: Bay County, Broward County, Collier County, Hernando County, Hillsborough County, Indian River County, Lake County, Lee County, Leon County, and Miami-Dade County. , also announced that it has expanded to 17 counties, including Monroe County. , Okaloosa County, Orange County, Polk County, Sarasota County, Seminole County, and St. Lucie County.
Under CORE, Florida has seen a reduction in the number of emergency medical services responding to drug overdoses, the governor said.
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“Opioid addiction plagues the lives of too many Floridians and Americans across the country,” State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said at a news conference. “Thanks to the support of Governor DeSantis and members of Congress, we continue to take steps to address this human tragedy. The expansion of CORE will help more Floridians help and treat more Floridians and help states across the country. It will serve as a role model.”
