Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Darryl PaulsonMarch 2, 2018

Anyone who follows the news knows that opioid abuse and drug deaths are a national problem; 63,000 Americans die of drug overdoses in 2016, an increase of 21 percent over 2015. Opioid deaths in Florida increased to 5,725 in 2016, a 35 percent increase over the previous year. It is important to remember that opioid […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 30, 2018

A proposal that would give judges discretion over drug trafficking mandatory minimum sentences advanced Tuesday after receiving strong pushback from a veteran Tallahassee lobbyist. “I don’t ever want to help a trafficker, no sir, and I don’t want to give a judge not one iota of an opportunity to go less on a trafficking sentence,” […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 28, 2017

The first month of “Operation Save Lives” – Jacksonville’s experimental inpatient opioid treatment program – is in the books and the results are mixed. The program, intended to address the mounting body count from the use of fentanyl and its derivatives, sees a local emergency room used as a feeder for two inpatient treatment programs, which […]

Ana CeballosNovember 29, 2017

All opioid prescription containers sold at pharmacies would need red warning labels stating the addictive nature of the drug under a bill sponsored by state Rep. Joseph Geller. “With such a large portion of our citizens exposed to these prescriptions, adding these common sense protections for those receiving opioids is a small step we can […]

Associated PressJuly 19, 2017

A 10-year-old boy from a drug-ridden Miami neighborhood apparently died of a fentanyl overdose last month, becoming one of Florida’s littlest victims of the opioid crisis, authorities say. But how he came into contact with the powerful painkiller is a mystery. Fifth-grader Alton Banks died June 23 after a visit to the pool in the […]

Associated PressJuly 18, 2017

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Prosecutors in Florida believe a 10-year-old boy who died with the painkiller fentanyl in his system is among the state’s youngest victims of the opioid crisis. Preliminary toxicology tests show Alton Banks had fentanyl in his system when he collapsed and died at his home on June 23, the Miami Herald reported. Health officials say […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 14, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 477 on Wednesday, a bill that would subject opioid dealers whose toxic product killed the end user to murder charges. HB 477 targets fentanyl and similar drugs by adding them to the Schedule 1 classification, along with heroin, MDMA, LSD, and cannabis. The potential death penalty for traffickers already existed for cocaine, opium, […]

Michael MolineMay 5, 2017

The Senate changed its mind Friday and accepted mandatory-minimum prison sentences in a bill cracking down on synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and carfentanil. Senators had stripped the provision earlier in the week, but the House refused to abandon mandatory sentences and sent the bill back. Senate President Joe Negron initially ruled that Sen. Greg Steube’s […]

Associated PressMay 4, 2017

Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency Wednesday to combat opioid abuse in the state, where he said the number of overdose deaths has reached epidemic proportions. Scott’s executive order will free up nearly $30 million in federal funds for prevention, treatment and recovery services. And it comes as a series of workshops […]

Guest AuthorMay 2, 2017

Facing yet another drug overdose epidemic, the Florida Legislature has an opportunity to move the needle in the right policy direction — finally. As members of the Florida House and Senate are poised to pass new criminal violations, this time for trafficking in fentanyl and synthetic drugs, the heat is on to include policies that […]

Tag: fentanyl

Darryl Paulson: The forgotten voices in the opioid debate

Bill giving judges discretion over drug trafficking sentences moves forward

Slow start for Jacksonville opioid treatment program

Warning labels for prescription opioids proposed under bill

Miami boy’s death shows powerful opioid’s chilling potential

Officials: Boy, 10, among youngest victims of opioid crisis

Murder charges for fatal fentanyl dealers: now Florida law

Senate bows to minimum-mandatory sentencing for fentanyl traffickers

Florida bolsters response to opioid-addiction crisis

Jason Pye, Sal Nuzzo: Mandatory minimum reform needed in overdose epidemic