Bay County Sheriff's Office sees significant decrease in overdoses

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Over the past two years, Bay County sheriff's officials say they have seen a 65% decrease in the number of overdoses in unincorporated Bay County.

They attribute this success to more resources and better tactics to combat the drug epidemic.

In 2021, there were nearly 200 overdoses in unincorporated Bay County, with 20 deaths.

At the time, drugs were abundant.

“The price fluctuations that affect that sometimes, and what affected the supply in 2021 is that it's the law of supply and demand, so there was significant supply coming across the border. The price dropped so it was more readily available, but an addict will find their drug no matter the price,” said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford.

Over the past two years, the number of overdoses has fallen to about 70, seven of which were fatal. Every overdose death is treated as a homicide.

“Our criminal investigation division is out, our crime scene unit is out, our drug unit is out and multiple investigators have been assigned to treat this death as a homicide because someone intentionally provided this drug to the person who resulted in his death,” Ford said. .

Sheriff Ford said that in 2023 there has only been a 3% decrease in overdose deaths at the national and state level.

“We didn't stop at the person who supplied it to the person who overdosed, but we actually went up the supply chain and arrested that person as well. “So I think the combination of the 14 manslaughter arrests, our zero tolerance for these drugs on the street and our drug unit working hard to make very large seizures of fentanyl and opioids over these two years.” , added Ford.

Those arrested for drug trafficking will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. Sheriff's officials also use the Life Line program to help people fight and hopefully overcome their addictions.

“When we have someone who is in prison, let's give them treatment to give them an opportunity to change their life, to come out and be good parents, good sons and daughters, good employees, good citizens in the community and me. I think we’ve had some really good results from the Life Line program,” Ford said.

If you know someone struggling with drug addiction, call the sheriff's office to find out what resources are available or visit their website.

If you want to dispose of medications you no longer want, most pharmacies and law enforcement agencies will accept them in a waste container.