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In Jacksonville, Florida, the opioid crisis has seen alarming rates of misuse and overdoses, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl being major contributors to the problem.
In 2021, Jacksonville experienced a significant number of opioid-related overdoses, with over 2,000 incidents reported. The city's opioid-related deaths have more than doubled in recent years, from 201 in 2015 to over 500 in 2020.
This surge is partly due to the increased prevalence of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid often mixed with other substances, leading to a higher risk of overdose. Local initiatives, such as the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program, are actively working to reduce these numbers by improving surveillance and expanding access to treatment and prevention resources.
Key Statistics on Opioid Use in Jacksonville:
- In 2020, Duval County, where Jacksonville is located, experienced 571 fatal overdoses.
- The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department responds to a heroin or opioid overdose approximately every two hours.
- In 2021, opioids were involved in nearly half of all non-fatal overdose ED visits in Florida, with an increase of over 2,000 cases from the previous year.
- From 2018 to 2022, there was a 67% increase in the rate of opioid overdose deaths in Duval County.
Opioid Overdose Statistics in Jacksonville
The opioid epidemic has led to a significant increase in overdose deaths in Jacksonville and the surrounding Duval County.
- In 2020, out of 7,460 fatal overdoses reported in Florida, 571 occurred in Duval County alone.
- In 2020, Jacksonville (Duval County) accounted for 7.7% of Florida’s fatal overdoses, despite only representing about 5% of the state’s population.
The trend of increasing overdose deaths in Jacksonville is alarming:
- 2015: 201 drug-related deaths
- 2019: 440 drug-related deaths
- 2020: 556 overdose deaths
- This represents a staggering 176% increase in just five years, with a particularly sharp 26% jump from 2019 to 2020.
Demographic Data & Insights
While the opioid crisis affects all segments of society, recent data shows changing demographics among overdose victims in Jacksonville:
- The 35- to 44-year age group is experiencing the highest number of opioid overdose deaths nationally, with a 5.0% increase from 2021 to 2022.
- The Latinx population in Jacksonville has seen a slight increase in opioid deaths, rising from 2% to 4% over the last five years.
- Men are at a higher risk of opioid overdose, though women may face unique challenges related to opioid use disorder.
- There’s a growing concern for individuals aged 55 and older, as overdose deaths in this age group are increasing rapidly nationwide.
While opioid use disorder affects all segments of the population, some demographic patterns have emerged in Jacksonville:
- Nearly 62% of addiction treatment admissions were men, with women accounting for 38%.
- Both adults and children are impacted, with 4,698 adults and 825 children entering care for drug and alcohol addiction in Duval County.
- Transgender individuals may experience higher rates of chronic pain and prescription opioid use for pain management.
- Recently released prisoners have higher opioid-related death rates.
Common Opioids & Prescribing Trends
- In 2022, over 700,000 opioid prescriptions were dispensed in Duval County alone.
- While prescription rates have decreased since 2016, they remain higher than both state and national averages.
- In 2016, oxycodone was involved in 118 total deaths in Jacksonville, with 66 of these deaths directly caused by the drug.
- Of the 118 total deaths involving oxycodone in 2016, 52 were potentially due to combinations with other substances.
- Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is often mixed with heroin, cocaine, or pressed into counterfeit pills resembling prescription opioids.
State Funds & Resource Allocation
Jacksonville has been selected as one of six regions in Florida to be included in Project Opioid, a coalition created to confront the opioid overdose crisis across the state. This initiative aims to bring together community leaders, healthcare providers, and law enforcement to develop comprehensive strategies for addressing the opioid epidemic.
Project Save Lives stands out as a highly successful intervention program in Jacksonville. Here’s how it’s helped combat the opioid crisis:
- Drastically reduced the number of opioid-related deaths
- Decreased calls for service from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department
- Focused on assisting patients with severe addiction
Some key achievements of Project Save Lives include:
- Significant reduction in opioid-related fatalities
- Improved emergency response efficiency
- Targeted support for individuals with severe opioid addiction
The success of Project Save Lives has led to recommendations for its continued monitoring and potential expansion to further address the opioid epidemic in Jacksonville.
Resource & Support Groups in Jacksonville
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in Jacksonville
- SMART Recovery in Jacksonville
- New Season Treatment Center - Duval
- Offers MAT with methadone, buprenorphine, and Suboxone, as well as counseling services
- Address: 590 Ellis Rd S, Bldg 4, Jacksonville, FL 32254
- MedMark Treatment Centers
- Provides MAT with methadone and buprenorphine, alongside individual counseling and support services. They specialize in treating addiction to opioids like fentanyl, heroin, and prescription painkillers
- Address: 5600 Spring Park Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32216
- Jacksonville Metro Treatment Center
- Specializes in MAT with methadone and buprenorphine, offering a variety of counseling services tailored to individuals with opioid use disorder.
- Address: 4427 Emerson St, Bldg 4, Jacksonville, FL 32207
- River Region Human Services
- Offers MAT as a part of a broader array of addiction treatment services, including counseling for individuals and families
- Address: 390 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204
Frequently Asked Questions
If you do not have insurance, the cost can vary based on the prescribed dose. Patients unable to afford buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) (regardless of insurance coverage) can apply for cost-assistance. The company that makes Suboxone offers this type of program to help reduce out-of-pocket expenses. To learn more, go to: inSupport program.
You can also get discounted buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) using pharmacy coupons or cash prizes. If you go to the GoodRx website (goodrx.com), you can enter in your zip code and find coupons and discounts at your pharmacy of choice. (On average, if you use GoodRx coupons/discounts, you can slash the typical price of generic Suboxone film from $395 to $118).
Before you are prescribed buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), you will need to undergo an initial medical evaluation so that the doctor can ensure that it is an appropriate medication for you, though this does not require an in-person visit and can be done via telehealth (with video or telephone).
Once you have completed this assessment, the doctor will send a prescription to your preferred pharmacy. So, yes! You can find a licensed buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) provider online and they can get you started on it via telehealth services without any in-person appointments.
- Buprenorphine/naloxone (Subxone) which is available in outpatient clinics (at your primary care doctor’s office or a psychiatrist’s office)
- Naloxone (Vivitrol) which is available in outpatient clinics (at your primary care doctor’s office or a psychiatrist’s office)
- Methadone, which is available only through methadone clinics
If you are interested in Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) offered entirely through telehealth services, visit bicyclehealth.com. To get help on finding other treatment options and levels of care (such as inpatient programs, intensive outpatient programs/IOPs, residential programs, and methadone clinics), call the SAMHSA helpline at:
1-800-662-HELP (4357).