The Overdose Crisis in South Florida
The opioid crisis has plagued millions of cities across the country over the past few decades, and South Florida communities are no exception to the issue. The pandemic has triggered a spike in deaths from opioid use.
According to the 2020 interim report from Florida’s medical examiners, deaths caused by opioids increased by 51% in Florida compared to the first six months of 2019. Illicitly-manufactured Fentanyl has caused the most deaths.
WLRN’s Caitie Switalski Munoz spoke with Chris Cavallo who lost one of his daughters, Stephanie, and his wife, Robin, to overdoses about 20 years apart. He has since founded The Robin Foundation, an overdose-prevention nonprofit, in honor of his wife.
“Thirty or forty years ago it was more up to the individual to get the help they needed,” said Cavallo. “But now, the community needs to rally around that individual whether it’s the family members or the addict themselves.”
Maia Szalavitz also joined the conversation. She’s a freelance journalist who covers neuroscience and addiction. She’s also the author of “Undoing Drugs: The Untold Story of Harm Reduction and the Future of Addiction.”
As a recovered opioid addict, Szalavitz understands the pain and isolation many addicts experience. That’s why she advocates harm-reduction approaches.
“I do not believe you can de-stigmatize addiction and criminalize it at the same time,” said Szalavitz. “The focus of our policy should be on making sure people don’t get hurt, not making sure people don’t get high. If you focus on the harm, then you can make policies that don’t do enormous harm while trying to help.”
The following independent organizations provide information and services outside The Robin Foundation’s overdose-prevention programs.
- Broward Addiction Recovery Center (BARC) — They reduced their bed space to increase social distancing.
- 2-1-1 Broward — They have a helpline that can connect you to counseling, detox centers, and other treatment options.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) — You can enter your city or zip code to locate a treatment center.