The Opioid Epidemic

The Opioid Epidemic

For general context, note that fatal overdoses are rising at an unprecedented rate in the state of Florida, and Central Florida is rising even faster than the statewide average. In the greater Central Florida region, there were over 1,618 deaths between March 2020 and March 2021, a rate of 34.51 per 100,000 of the population. In Central Florida, there were 616 overdose deaths between March 2020 and March 2021, a 28% increase in the same period in 2019-2020. This equals 51 overdose deaths a month and over 1.5 a day.26

As shown in the graphic below, prescribing rates have decreased in Seminole county by approximately 20%.

Exhibit 31: Trend of Opioid Prescribing Rates in Seminole County

700 662.1

600

500

400

300 566.4

505.8

200 2018 2019

Per 1,000 2020

Source: Florida Department of Health Bureau of Community Health Assessment Division of Public Health Statistics and Performance Management Substance Use Dashboard

26Project Opioid. The Changing Overdose Crisis in Central Florida: A Community Needs Assessment, 2021.

Opioid deaths decreased in 2020 from 2019 in each service area county, as well as the state total.

Exhibit 32: Trend of Opioid-Related Deaths in Seminole County

2019

2020 20 61

2019

4,294

Florida

2020

3,034

2019

61

Seminole County

2020

20

Source: Florida Department of Health Bureau of Community Health Assessment Division of Public Health Statistics and Performance Management Substance Use Dashboard, 2020

Photo courtesy of Seminole County Government