Heroin and Fentanyl Overdoses on the Rise in the Miami, Florida Area
Since 2013, Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida has seen the number of overdoses from both fentanyl and heroin explode. Medical professionals and local
Heroin and Fentanyl Overdoses on the Rise in the Miami, Florida Area
Since 2013, Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida has seen the number of overdoses from both fentanyl and heroin explode. Medical professionals and local officials in the Miami area are searching for ways to help get heroin users into treatment rather than serving jail time. In fact, this effort has caught on nationwide.
A partnership is currently forming between the South Florida Behavioral Network, University of Miami Health System, Jackson Health and Miami-Dade Circuit Court system. Collectively, they are seeking nearly $1 million in funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and another $400K from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The money will be used to provide treatment for between 50 and 80 patients each year for three years and is already enrolling clients. A combination of counseling and medication management will be used to treat each patient after detoxification has been completed.
The fentanyl epidemic is becoming a tougher fight in South Florida with each passing year. According to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s office, 130 people have died from overdosing on Fentanyl as of August 2016. Law enforcement officials estimate that there was a major shift from the abuse of prescription drugs to heroin several years ago. Since traffickers have now discovered how to manufacture fentanyl cheaper than heroin, many people are mistakenly purchasing fentanyl instead.
By Dr. David Ockman, PsyD, CAP, Lifeskills South Florida Addiction Psychologist
Public officials and families have been stunned by Fentanyl, the most recent addiction epidemic. Fentanyl, a synthetic narcotic drug and most commonly paired with heroin, has caused an increase in overdoses by 20% in 2016 and the crisis is growing. Narcan, the antidote used to reverse the deadly effects of these substances, has been used at an astounding rate by paramedics. For one South Florida city, the amount spent on Narcan for emergency use skyrocketed from $43,000 to $155,000 in one year, signifying the debilitating and widespread effects that individuals, families and the community are experiencing.
Many communities are recognizing the intense need for treatment of this specific addiction. It has been repeatedly reported that communities should divert people arrested for their involvement in the use of this dangerous substance toward treatment programs. It is imperative to ensure that chemical dependency experts and treatment professionals are providing the most “up to date“ care and support for the stabilization through the recovery process. Lifeskills South Florida has been ahead of the curve providing treatment specified for the opiate and fentanyl addicted person. Since there is a physical and psychological withdrawal process from these narcotics, it is important to ensure that post acute withdrawal symptoms, cravings and urges are managed and addressed medically and therapeu