Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs Testifies Before U.S. Congressional Committee on Heroin Epidemic

Public Health & Safety

“Throughout the nation and my community, heroin deaths have skyrocketed,” Mica says. “I have invited Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs to testify about her Heroin Taskforce and work to keep Central Florida from being torn apart by heroin abuse. We must keep people from dying from skyrocketing heroin and drug overdoses.”

To focus on the growing heroin problem, last July Jacobs formed the Orange County Heroin Task Force and invited Orange County Sheriff Jerry L. Demings to serve as co-chair. The Task Force concluded its efforts last week, delivering 37 targeted recommendations, from increased bond and trafficking penalties to social media campaigns warning young people about the deadly nature of heroin, as well as additional education, training and treatment to fight the addiction.

“Despite Central Florida’s strengthening economy, extraordinary quality of life and soaring reputation, heroin use has exploded. In 2015, we had 84 heroin-related deaths in Orange County, compared to 14 in 2011,” Mayor Jacobs said. “Congressman Mica has been with the Task Force every step of the way, including his current efforts to bring national attention to the recommendations and findings of our local experts and leaders. To save lives, the county needs an engaged community, as well as federal and state help. Thanks to Congressman Mica and his unwavering efforts to fight heroin and its devastating impact, we have a true champion for Orange County’s efforts to combat this epidemic.”

The Task Force also recommended expanding access to Naloxone, a life-saving drug used in severe overdose situations, and combining detox at the jail with “Medically Assisted Treatment,” using the drug Vivitrol to fight heroin addiction.

Mayor Jacobs and Sheriff Demings convened Orange County’s Heroin Task Force to address the extraordinary spike in local heroin use and overdoses from the highly addictive drug. To tackle this problem locally, Mayor Jacobs asked Sheriff Demings to co-chair the interdisciplinary and multi-jurisdictional Task Force. The Task Force was comprised of key community leaders who provided their expertise in the areas of law enforcement, education and prevention, healthcare and treatment to address the increase in heroin use and overdose-related deaths in Orange County.

At the final meeting of the Task Force on Monday, March 14, reports from four subcommittees were presented, including Chief John Mina, Orlando Police Department, Law Enforcement Subcommittee Report; Dr. Barbara Jenkins Superintendent, Orange County Public Schools, Education and Prevention subcommittee report; Dr. Kevin Sherin, Director, Florida Department of Health, Orange County, Healthcare Subcommittee report; and Director Phil Scarpelli, DCF Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services, Treatment Subcommittee.

Although prescription drug abuse is still a serious problem, heroin has become easier to obtain and has a very high-purity level. Troubling studies have found that more young adult professionals are using the drug.

“In Orange County, are doing everything we can with the resources we have. We need your help to stop the influx of drugs across the border, and help us treat more addicts,” Mayor Jacobs said. “Right now we only have 26 beds for the uninsured. With a regional population of 2.5 million, we need to do better, and we need to educate people so they never try this deadly drug in the first place.”

For more information about the Orange County Heroin Task Force, please visit www.ocfl.net/heroin.

View talking points from Mayor Jacobs’ Congressional Hearing Testimony.

To view more photos from the hearing, visit Flickr.

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