Attorney General Ashley Moody and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Mark Glass today announced promising progress in the fight against the opioid crisis, revealing a substantial drop in opioid-related deaths in Florida.
The latest Florida Medical Examiners Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons Report shows an 11% decrease in fentanyl-related deaths in 2023, significantly outperforming the national average decrease of 2% during the same period.
Additionally, provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates a more than 17% drop in drug overdose deaths statewide. Some areas, like the Leesburg Medical Examiner District—which includes Citrus, Lake, Hernando, Marion, and Sumter counties—experienced even more dramatic results, with a 40% reduction in fentanyl-related fatalities.
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Florida’s achievements can be attributed to a combination of law enforcement operations, public awareness initiatives, and expanded access to life-saving treatments like naloxone. Under the Helping Heroes program, Attorney General Moody has provided free naloxone to first responders, a critical tool in reversing opioid overdoses. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office became the latest agency to join the program.
“Florida is fighting hard to stop the flow of Mexican fentanyl into our state,” said Attorney General Moody. “While this is encouraging news, far too many preventable deaths still occur. We will continue to target drug traffickers and provide resources to those struggling with addiction.”
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Commissioner Mark Glass credited state leadership and law enforcement efforts for the progress. “Thanks to the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody, fentanyl deaths decreased dramatically, with 660 fewer lives lost in 2023,” said Glass.
Florida leads the nation in fentanyl seizures, with record-breaking busts contributing to the decline in deaths. For example, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office recently seized over 13 pounds of fentanyl—enough to kill more than 3 million people. Other regions, such as the Florida Keys, Gainesville, and Fort Myers, also saw significant reductions in fentanyl fatalities, with decreases exceeding 27%.
Since taking office, Attorney General Moody has prioritized combatting the opioid crisis by:
- Launching the Helping Heroes initiative to provide free naloxone through 2033.
- Chairing the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Drug Abuse to develop strategic solutions.
- Securing billions of dollars through historic opioid litigation to remediate the crisis.
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Moody has supported key legislative measures, such as the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) Initiative, which allocated $15 million to law enforcement. These funds have enabled the seizure of over 290 pounds of fentanyl, capable of killing more than 65 million people.
Additionally, Moody has been a vocal advocate for declaring fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction and classifying Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
While progress has been made, Moody stressed the need for continued vigilance. “This fight is far from over,” she said. “We will remain relentless in our efforts to protect Floridians from this deadly epidemic.”
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