TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement today announced the third consecutive report with a drop in statewide drug-related deaths. Along with the announcement, Attorney General Moody and FDLE released the Florida Medical Examiners Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons 2023 Interim Report. The report shows that total drug-related deaths, opioid-caused deaths and deaths caused by fentanyl all declined in the first six months of 2023. The news comes on the heels of a nationwide report showing that Florida leads the nation in fentanyl seizures.
“Florida law enforcement is leading the way in removing deadly Mexican fentanyl from our streets, and while the third straight report with a decrease in drug-related deaths statewide is encouraging news, the death toll is still far too high and the border way too open,” Attorney General Ashley Moody said. “That is why we must continue to wage war against the opioid crisis on multiple fronts—on the streets, in addiction treatment facilities and in federal court, where my attorneys are pushing back against Biden’s unlawful immigration policies in an effort to stop the free flow of deadly drugs across our border.”
FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass added: “By working together – our agents, local law enforcement, our lawmakers, and our communities – we can reduce the number of drug deaths across Florida, and make our communities safer and healthier.”
Attorney General Moody filed multiple legal challenges to force Biden to follow federal immigration laws, close the U.S. Southwest Border and stop the flood of Mexican fentanyl from entering the country and killing Americans. More than 100,000 Americans die every year of a drug overdose—the vast majority of those deaths are due to fentanyl. While Attorney General Moody has won multiple legal battles against Biden, the administration continues to create new unlawful policies that allow the Mexican drug cartels to continue smuggling massive amounts of illicit fentanyl into the interior of the country.
According to the just-released FDLE interim report, in the first six months of 2023, Florida experienced a:
- 7% decrease in total drug-related deaths;
- 10% decrease in deaths caused by fentanyl; and
- 10% decrease in opioid-caused deaths.
The decreases in total drug-related deaths and deaths caused by fentanyl are the greatest percentage decreases in Florida since 2016. These decreases follow massive drug interdiction efforts by Florida law enforcement that resulted in Florida leading the nation in fentanyl seizures. In 2023, Florida law enforcement participated in 2,089 fentanyl seizure operations.
Last month in Volusia County, Attorney General Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution filed charges against 39 members of a drug-trafficking ring. During the law enforcement investigation, authorities seized enough fentanyl to kill at least half a million people.
Later that month, Attorney General Moody and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the arrests of 64 criminals involved in a massive fentanyl trafficking ring. During the operation, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and FDLE seized 742 grams of fentanyl—enough to kill more than 370,000 Floridians.
In October 2022, Attorney General Moody announced that Florida law enforcement already seized enough fentanyl that year to kill the entire population of the state. The report came following an 11-pound drug bust by PCSO, and earlier that year, Attorney General Moody announced another massive drug bust involving more than 50 pounds of fentanyl.
Just two milligrams of fentanyl is enough to kill an adult, and the deadly synthetic opioid is being found in almost every illicit substance sold on the black market. That is why Attorney General Moody created the One Pill Can Kill webpage and Fast Facts on Fentanyl toolkit. These resources provide additional information about the threat of this deadly drug. Additionally, Attorney General Moody asks that anyone struggling with substance abuse issues visit TreatmentAtlas.org to find nearby treatment options.
In May 2023, Attorney General Moody launched the Helping Heroes program to ensure Florida first responders are equipped with life saving naloxone. To learn more about Helping Heroes, click here.
