Decrease in drug-related deaths in Florida gives new glimmer of hope to families affected by addiction

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A recent report by the Florida Medical Examiner’s Commission revealed a slight decrease in the number of drug-related deaths in 2022, bringing a new glimmer of hope for families who have loved ones battling drug addiction.

A local parent who lost a son to fentanyl said the 3% decline in fentanyl deaths in Florida is progress.

“There is a very long way to go with it. Every single life is worth it. But if we get the word out and continue to see a decrease in fentanyl deaths, then our goal is met,” Carroll Miniard said.

Miniard knows all too well about the pain of losing a child to a fentanyl overdose.

“I would never wish this on any parent. To lose your child. It’s the worst possible nightmare,” Miniard said.

RELATED | ‘Your family is not immune’: Mother knows pain of losing loved one to drug addiction

Back in 2019, her son Evan was battling a drug addiction following a car crash that left him in pain. When prescription pain medication wasn’t enough, he turned to street drugs. His life ended when he used heroin that was laced with fentanyl.

“It was two policemen from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office when I opened the front door. We all went to the door together because we just knew something wasn’t right on a Sunday night in 2019,” Miniard said.

According to the recently released final report on drug deaths by the Florida Medical Examiner’s Commission, the year after Evan’s death, 5,302 people in Florida died from fentanyl. The following year, the number jumped to 5,791. Then in 2022, fatalities dropped to 5,522.

“It’s a low percentage but it’s something. It’s giving me hope. It’s giving other families hope. There’s hopefully an end to this crisis,” Miniard said.

Federal prosecutors said factors that led to the 3% drop include indictments of Chinese companies and individuals who supply Mexican drug cartels with chemicals used to produce fentanyl. Other contributing factors were the increase in criminal convictions for fentanyl trafficking and distribution.

MORE | The US sanctions Mexican Sinaloa cartel members and firms over fentanyl trafficking

There was also an increase in seizures of fentanyl powder and pills, seizures that have not slowed down.

According to the DEA’s tracker of fentanyl seizures across the U.S., as of Monday, 11.7 million fentanyl pills and 730 pounds of fentanyl powder have been seized since the beginning of the year. But in reality, the numbers are likely much higher when you add fentanyl seizures from local law enforcement agencies.

To Miniard, the seizure numbers represent something else.

“That’s lives that are being saved and we can’t put a price on that,” Miniard said.

RELATED | Opioid addiction: This story is bigger than me

If you or anyone you know has a drug addiction problem, please seek help.

You can call the Florida Addiction Hotline at 866-210-1303.