Workshop to combat opioid use scheduled for Monday

South Floridians will be the first to tell multiple agencies holding workshops across the state how opioid addiction has devastated their communities.

With overdoses on the rise, Gov. Rick Scott directed state agencies to meet with those affected. The first of the four workshops, open to the public, will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Monday at the West Palm Beach Police Department at 600 Banyan Blvd.

“Opioid abuse is happening across our nation, and it is crucial that we hear what our local communities are doing to fight the rising use of opioids and how we as the state can continue to help,” Scott said.

Scott announced the workshops in early April during a news conference with Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The Florida departments of health, children and families and law enforcement are hosting the workshops in four counties. The Office of the Attorney General also will send drug policy and law enforcement experts, said Whitney Ray, a spokesperson for the office.

Each agency plans to provide an overview of what they are doing to combat the crisis, according to a meeting agenda. They’ll speak with local law enforcement, government officials, treatment providers and others to learn more about community needs.

The agencies also plan to provide information on existing state resources and grant opportunities.

At the end of the agenda, workshop officials will have a public comment session.

South Florida has been hit hard by the crisis. Palm Beach County saw 592 overdoses in 2016, while Broward County saw 582, according to officials in both counties.

A combination of heroin and fentanyl — a powerful, cheap synthetic painkiller — have largely driven the increase.

A single dose of the overdose reversal drug known as naloxone used to be enough to save a person. Now, emergency responders say they are regularly giving multiple doses of the drug as treatment.

Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said he’s encouraged by the recent actions of the governor and Legislature.

“Anything that raises awareness of this crisis is a positive that can help save lives,” Aronberg said.

“Many legislators used to think that this was solely a Palm Beach County problem, when it is clearly a statewide epidemic.”

Presenting the workshop is “better than nothing,” said Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa Mckinlay. “I wish we had an emergency declaration in place. I would be more satisfied if that were happening, but at least this is a step in the right direction and he’s (Scott) paying attention.”

Maureen Kielian’s 26-year-old son got addicted to prescription opiates nearly a decade ago, she said. Today, he’s in long-term recovery, and Kielian remains active in the drug-treatment community.

Kielian, a member of the Palm Beach County Sober Homes Task Force, plans to hold a welcoming rally for officials ahead of the meeting to let them know the “epidemic is personal, is real,” she said.

Additional meetings will be held in Manatee and Orange counties on Tuesday and Duval County on Wednesday.