Data from the Pasco County Sheriff's Office shows U.S. 19 is a hotspot for opioid overdoses. On average, one in five overdoses in Pasco County are now fatal, with fentanyl fueling the crisis.
Police officers and firefighters are often the first to respond to drug overdose calls and when they get on the scene, the pressure is on to revive the person in need of help.
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Florida overdose deaths spike 37% during pandemic, CDC data shows
Catherine Hawley reports
TAMPA, Fla. - Drug overdose deaths surged across the country in 2020, hitting a record high. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more than 93,000 people lost their lives.
In Florida, preliminary data from the CDC shows the death toll was up about 37% from 2019.
The alarming trend is being driven by an increase of the synthetic opioid fentanyl on the streets, and the coronavirus pandemic s impact on substance abuse and addiction. Not everyone received the support they needed. Addiction is literally wiping out my entire generation and the next generation at this point, said Stephen Sundquist with Clean Recovery Centers.