The Opioid Challenge in Broward County
Broward’s Opioid Challenge
Broward County has seen a dramatic rise in opioid-related overdoses and overdose deaths with 501 deaths reported in 2019 – the highest number in Florida. In the first six months of 2020 there were 481 due to fentanyl and analogs alone.
HIV and Hepatitis C
- Broward has one of the highest rates of
new HIV diagnoses in Florida with 624
individuals diagnosed in 2019. - Hepatitis C cases in Broward surged from
1.3 per 100,000 in 2016 to 3.0 in 2019.
Individuals who inject drugs have an exponentially higher risk of contracting blood-borne diseases like HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, skin infections, and infections of the heart. As many struggling with opioid addiction turn to heroin and fentanyl infections climb — The SPOT’s SSP is key to preventing these tragedies.
The U.S. Opioid Epidemic
According to the CDC nearly 50,000 people in the U.S. died from opioid-involved overdoses in 2019. Fatal overdoses have increased by 30% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The misuse of opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare.
The U.S. Opioid Epidemic
According to the CDC nearly 50,000 people in the U.S. died from opioid-involved overdoses in 2019. Fatal overdoses have increased by 30% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The misuse of opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare.