Drug task force a model in fight against substance abuse

Not a day goes by when we don’t hear of drug overdoses in locations ranging from rural Maine to New York City. At times it’s difficult to strike a balance between taking pro-active steps and avoiding the situation as a method of self-protection.

One thing is certain — this is tragic on many levels and threatens many communities and families. The City of Delray Beach is at one of the epicenters of this national health care crisis and has taken a stance that is dealing with the problem on several fronts.

The Delray Beach Drug Task Force has created an environment that combines the efforts of city government, responders, educators, law enforcement, hospitals and recovery centers. It is a long battle but we are finding solutions. The problem has cast a wide net of dysfunction requiring an approach that anticipates problems of tomorrow while finding solutions for today. Our hope is that our “City by the Sea” can be used as a model to other cities facing similar problems.

Problems are far-reaching as we see systems that, if not broken, are at a minimum stressed. First responders are at high risk for burnout. Families are in financial and emotional ruin at the hands of a disease. We see an industry that has blurred the lines between health care and profit motive. There is a “perfect storm” throughout the country.

The “not in my backyard” posture cannot shield communities from a disease that does not discriminate. Communities are pleading for help, regulation and oversight. The statistics are daunting: 580 people try heroin for the first time every day There is an overdose death every six hours in South Florida In 2015, there were 1,460 overdose deaths in South Florida In Palm Beach County, fatal heroin overdoses jumped from 158 in 2015 to 107 thus far in 2016. Fentanyl deaths rose from 90 in 2015 to 173 in 2016 The sale of legal painkillers has tripled since 1999 More than 28,000 people have died from opiates since 2014 Our multi-dimensional approach is making an impact, and we’re pleased to sponsor the 2nd Annual 2017 SUD Talks (www.sudtalks.org), a community and industry event designed to change the way communities, governments and providers think, feel, believe and treat substance use disorder. It will be held March 4 at the Crest Theatre in Delray Beach and will be broadcast nationally through various social media platforms. The event features a collection of diverse speakers presented in a “Ted Talk” format, and an engaging and interactive panel discussion with industry experts.

This event was well-received last year. It brought awareness nationally and locally to the problem and recommended steps cities must take if they are to build integrated communities, rebuild broken systems, and ensure consumer protection and public safety. The following are some of the initiatives we have taken: Provided Narcan through a grant to the Delray Beach Police Department, making it the second law enforcement agency in the state to use this antidote. These kits and policies and training protocols are shared with other police departments in South Florida when requested.

Founded the After-Narcan initiative, a strategy aimed at breaking the cycle of addiction, reducing chronic relapse and facilitating access to treatment

Living Skills in the Schools, a substance abuse prevention program under the Crossroads Club authorized by safe schools for Palm Beach County schools. It has reached more than 125,000 students in 60 schools in grades kindergarten through college.

Project Trailblazer, an initiative designed to contribute to the economic architecture of Delray Beach by providing employers with pre- and post-hiring support, reducing absenteeism, recidivism rates, and increasing long-term recovery outcomes

Recognized as a national model, the Delray Beach Drug Task Force is a valuable and unique resource for other cities striving to deal with consequences of substance use disorder.