Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorMay 4, 2016

Mel Sembler and I have something in common. We both had children who abused drugs. The similarities end there. Mel’s children are all alive, thank goodness. My son, Jonathan, died of a heroin overdose in 2006, after being dumped outside of an ER in Hialeah by the dealers who sold him his final shot. Mr. […]

Scott PowersFebruary 25, 2016

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson is pushing for over-the-counter availability of Naloxone, a nasal inhalant drug used to treat people who have overdosed on heroin or opioids. The Orlando Democrat, who is running for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat, announced Thursday he has sent a letter to Dr. Stephen Ostroff of the Food and Drug Administration asking […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 19, 2016

The prescription drug abuse problem has spread to nearly every corner of society in Florida. In 2014, 2,062 Floridians died from prescription drug overdose—a 7.6 percent increase from 2013. People who are victims of drug abuse cannot be categorized into a particular socio-economic class or region, but are found in every segment of the population. […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 28, 2015

Our country faces an epidemic. On average, 308 people die every week from prescription opioid pain medications, the vast majority unintentional. Over the past five years, more Americans died from prescription opioid overdose than during the entire Vietnam War. Sadly, our state is not immune from this epidemic. Drug poisoning, has surpassed car accidents as […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 28, 2015

Our country faces an epidemic. On average, 308 people die every week from prescription opioid pain medications, the vast majority unintentional. Over the past five years, more Americans died from prescription opioid overdose than during the entire Vietnam War. Sadly, our state is not immune from this epidemic. Drug poisoning, has surpassed car accidents as […]

Guest AuthorMay 11, 2015

Florida lawmakers passed a life-saving measure which now heads to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature. The newly passed legislation will drastically diminish a tragic and far-too-common occurrence – death resulting from a drug overdose. This public health crisis has, up until now, burdened the citizens and communities of Florida. My organization, Shatterproof, would like […]

Guest AuthorMay 6, 2015

Florida lawmakers passed a life-saving measure that now heads to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature. The newly passed legislation will drastically diminish a tragic and far-too-common occurrence: death resulting from a drug overdose. This public health crisis has, until now, burdened Florida residents and communities. My organization, Shatterproof, would like to applaud this momentous […]

Phil AmmannApril 28, 2015

Florida lawmakers approved a medication that could save lives during a drug overdose, with a bill now awaiting Gov. Rick Scott’s signature. On Tuesday, the Legislature passed SB 758/HB 751, known as the Emergency Treatment for Opioid Overdose Act, which increases availability of Naloxone, a drug that immediately reverses effects of opioids — prescription painkillers, […]

Tag: Naloxone
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Joy Fishman: Let’s tackle drug abuse with ‘harm reduction’ strategies

Alan Grayson pushes for over-the-counter sales of heroin/opioid overdose medicine Naloxone

Austin Curry: More Florida seniors dying from drug overdoses

Dr. Julio Gonzalez: Florida takes action to reduce prescription drug, heroin-related deaths

Dr. Julio Gonzalez: Florida takes action to reduce prescription drug, heroin-related deaths

Gary Mendell: Life-saving measure passes Florida Legislature to combat drug overdoses

Gary Mendell: Life-saving measure passes Legislature to combat drug overdoses

Florida Legislature passes expanded access to overdose treatment drug