77th Coffee with the Commissioner--Great Conversation on How we are Attacking the Opioid Epidemic Locally

Today on our 77th Coffee with the Commissioner Event(which you can view in it's entirety by clicking the video above) we discussed the CORE program which the county will be implementing, in conjunction with community healthcare partners, to combat our out-of-control opioid overdose issue here.  This program will help folks find addiction treatment options to help them kick their habits if they seek help.  The panel describes how this program will work, and how it is modeled after a very successful program in south Florida.  Dr. Mark Stavros from Florida West Hospital, Chandra Smiley from Community Health Northwest, Marie Mott from the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, and Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore joined County Administrator Wes Moreno and I for the discussion.

What's the Most Pressing National Public Health Emergency Right Now--AND one that is Affecting Escambia County Disproportionately?

What is the most pressing national health "emergency?"  a non-fatal skin disease that has a vaccine and can be prevented---or dangerous fentanyl from China being added to illegal drugs throughout America (and right here in Escambia County) which will, along with other opioids, actually and ultimately kill more than 100,000 Americans this year?  How come we are being told the former is the crisis--while the latter is all but ignored?

No, I normally do not delve into national topics here on this blog unless there is some compelling local connection to Escambia County.  

And there is.

Some master-hypnotist media types and national-level bureaucrats/politicians (left-leaning, primarily) want you to forget all about the epidemic of opioid drug overdoses with fentanyl in America killing more than 100,000 yearly--- and instead---- want us all to focus on a primarily nonfatal disease that afflicts less than a 10th of the number of actual overdose deaths we will see in America this year.  They want you to believe MonkeyPox--a disease that is primarily spread among one sex and one very small segment of the population---and for which there is already treatments and a vaccine---is what EVERYONE must be terrified about right now.

But wait just a minute.  

We in Escambia County have pockets of areas and populations where there is a massive, unrestrained drug problem.  Massive.  We have a correspondingly massive increase in deaths and a huge number of citizens overdosing daily on opioids, primarily fentanyl.  And it is costing taxpayers millions of dollars dealing with it-- as our County EMS attends to nearly 6 overdoses daily in our county. (this figure does not include the overdoses that are dumped at emergency rooms nor does it count our sheriff's responses to overdoses)

By contrast--we have had ZERO Monkeypox cases as of the morning of this blogpost reported in our area as reported by the local media.  Nada.  Zilch.  Zero. (one suspected case occurred in Santa Rosa County two weeks back)  (UPDATE-8-23-22--I received a call from William Reynolds yesterday, publisher of NORTHESCAMBIA.COM, on an unrelated topic and he did let me know his outlet and channel 3 also both reported that our area has one (1) presumptive case of MonkeyPox.)  1 case of that, and 6 overdoses daily our EMS units are racing to.......

So why do some politicians and bureaucrats seek so desperately to get average citizens' eyes off the real ball with respect to the massive quanitites of Chinese fentanyl packs coming over the porous border with Mexico flooding America's states and cities?  Illegal crossings are hitting all-time highs and  many who cross are body-packing this dangerous China-manufactured drug like sherpas?  

Look at the "number of deaths" increases, directly in proportion to the surge in illegal border crossings over the last 3 years, and tell me THAT is not the pressing national health crisis upon which we should all be focusing?

Nope--it has to be MonkeyPox now.  Only MonkeyPox.  

Look, I feel for anyone who gets that awful disease.  It looks horrible from the pictures I have seen--horrible, awful, painful and unsightly.

But we know how to stop it, It is known which behaviors spread it and what the risk factors are, and there is treatment and a vaccine.

So instead of having David Muir lecture us and pontificate at us nightly --complete with a serious face--

Illegal Drug Abuse leads to More Deaths Locally....

"This graph on page 4 (above) shows a significant and deeply disturbing statistic.  For the first time ever – fentanyl superseded all other drugs including alcohol. Most of these deaths are from illicit fentanyl (not prescribed or legally manufactured)."  Dr. Deanna Oleske, District 1 Medical Examiner

Many people espouse the belief that illegal drug use/drug abuse is a "victimless crime."

But looking at the violence in our area and the shootings, murders, and crime---much of it revolves around drugs and the sale and distribution of illegal drugs according to those very familiar with the criminal justice system locally with whom I have spoken.

But what about the overdoses?  

We received an email this week from our area's medical examiner who provided stark numbers from the state and from our four county area related to drug overdoses and deaths.  From her email:

"The District 1 MEO saw a 57% increase in drug related deaths in 2020 compared to 2019. We also had a 30% increase in NON-COVID related cases – and the 2 categories that increased the most dramatically were sudden natural deaths in young persons and drug related fatalities (fentanyl and methamphetamine). This week, I had 25 decedents on the docket and 75% are drug related deaths. Last year, an average week was 15-18 decedents and now it’s 22-26.  Unfortunately, COVID restrictions ease up, the drug related fatalities are continuing to increase.  You would be surprised at some of the occupations of our drug overdoses --- teachers, lawyers, nurses, firefighters, truck drivers, veterans. These are our neighbors; this is our community."

Read the most recent interim state report on drug related deaths here

Illegal drug abuse is NOT a victimless crime.  Perhaps it is time to get back to the basics with ads like this one that I remember seeing when I was growing up.....