The 21-member Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse, chaired by Attorney General Ashley Moody, was created by Executive Order 19-97 in 2019, in the wake of the Opioid Epidemic, knowing that a coordinated and comprehensive statewide drug control and substance abuse prevention strategy is imperative for education, prevention, treatment, recovery and law enforcement efforts.
Members include mental health experts, law enforcement officers, legislators, a State Attorney and Public Defender, as well as experts in the fields of addiction, education and social services.
Prescription opioid misuse is among the top public health concerns both nationally and in the Sunshine State. Opioids are a family of drugs that include prescription painkillers such as hydrocodone and Oxycodone, as well as illegal drugs like heroin. Repeated misuse of prescription opioids can lead to substance use disorder (also known as addiction), and even death. The opioid crisis has progressed in three phases: the first phase is characterized by misuse of prescription opioids, the second phase is marked by the spike in misuse of substance such as heroin, and the third and current phase is distinguished by the rise in the misuse of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
The Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse was created to research and assess the nature of opioid drug abuse in Florida and develop a statewide strategy to identify best practices to combat the opioid epidemic through education, treatment, prevention, recovery and law enforcement.
While there is no silver bullet to end the opioid crisis in our state, the initial findings of the Task Force included in the report provide evidence-informed, best practice recommendations to combat the opioid crisis. Additionally, the Task Force prioritized those recommendations, identifying which recommendations should be implemented as soon as possible to make a timely and significant impact on saving lives. These prioritized recommendations set out in the report are the framework to the statewide strategy to combat the opioid crisis. The Task Force held its final meeting in April of 2020.
Date | Location |
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October 11, 2019 10:00 AM |
The Capitol Cabinet Meeting Room 400 South Monroe St Tallahassee, FL 32399 |
November 21, 2019 2:00 PM |
St. Leo University, Board Room 33701 State Rd. 52 St Leo, FL 33574 |
December 17, 2019 10:00 AM |
Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus Chapman Conference Center Room 3210 – Bldg. 3, 2nd Floor 300 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33132 |
January 10, 2020 1:00 PM |
Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Professional Development Center 2772 Depot Ave. Sanford, FL 32773 |
February 24, 2020 1:00 PM |
Manatee Memorial Hospital The Auditorium 206 Second Street East 206 Second Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 |
March 24, 2020 2:00 PM |
Teleconference |
April 1, 2020 1:00 PM |
Teleconference FINAL MEETING |