JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Drug-related deaths in Florida dropped 14% between 2023 and 2024, with fentanyl deaths plunging by 35%, according to new state data that officials say reflects the success of increased funding and stronger recovery programs.
The decline was even more pronounced in Duval County, where fentanyl-related deaths fell by 43%, from 454 deaths in 2023 to 261 in 2024, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Drug Identified in Deceased Persons Report dashboard.
Recommended Videos
“The first one is the great influx of funding we’ve received to distribute Narcan,” said Dr. Christine Cauffield, CEO of LSF Health Systems, explaining the factors behind the decline.
The state data shows opioid-caused deaths decreased by 32% during the same period. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office attributes part of this reduction to successful seizures of large quantities of fentanyl and other opioids, making them less available to users.
A key factor in the declining death rates is Florida’s Coordinated Opioid Recovery Network (CORE) Initiative, according to health officials.
“We have stood up and implemented 23 of the CORE initiatives throughout our 23 counties - so very pleased this initiative has shown great results,” Cauffield said.
LSF Health Systems focuses on identifying and investing in well-trained sites that work closely with overdose patients. The organization emphasizes the connection between substance abuse and mental health issues in its treatment approach.
Despite the progress, significant challenges remain. “There are about 48 million people in the United States that live with a substance abuse disorder, over the age of 12. And only 1 in 5 receive treatment,” Cauffield noted.
The impact of addiction extends beyond the individuals struggling with substance abuse. “The family members that don’t understand the disease of addiction often times feel very threatened, very attacked by their loved one and don’t understand that it is a disease that is causing these behaviors,” Cauffield explained.
The current approach pairs overdose patients with peer counselors immediately after they are revived, aiming to guide them toward treatment options.
“Recovery is a long process, but I’m so pleased to say that recovery works,” Cauffield said.
Health officials emphasize that maintaining current funding levels for Narcan distribution and recovery programs will be crucial to sustaining these positive trends in reducing drug-related deaths.