'Reckless' Fentanyl Exposure To FL First Responders Now Illegal

FLORIDA — It is now illegal to "recklessly" expose first responders to fentanyl or fentanyl products in Florida after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two Senate bills into law this week.

The second bill DeSantis signed is geared toward driving awareness of opioid overdose, according to a news release from DeSantis' office.

The Republican governor signed Monday Senate Bill 18, making it a second-degree felony for adults to expose first responders to fentanyl "that results in overdose or serious bodily injury," the news release said.

The bill also protects people who seek help in "good faith" from being prosecuted "due to the belief that they or someone they know is experiencing an overdose," the news release said.

" ... law enforcement officers are encountering fentanyl at alarming rates,” DeSantis said in the release. “I’m signing legislation today to keep officers safe on the job, and to further combat the opioid epidemic.”

The Coordinated Opioid Response network was also increased in size to reach 17 additional counties, bringing the total number of counties with access to 29. CORE serves the purpose of treating addictions for anyone suffering from substance use.

The program is now in Bay, Broward, Collier, Hernando, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Leon, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okaloosa, Orange, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole and St. Lucie counties.

“CORE’s holistic approach to combating the opioid epidemic has resulted in unprecedented results for Floridians battling addiction,” Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris said in the release.

“Florida is grateful for the governor and first lady’s innovative leadership, and the department looks forward to continuing to work with partners and key stakeholders to support families on their path to recovery and resiliency.”

Senate Bill 66, which DeSantis also signed Monday, identifies June 6 as Revive Awareness Day. It also instructs the Florida Department of Health to increase opioid overdose awareness and the safe use of opioid counteractants.

DeSantis' office said overdose deaths across Florida have decreased by 9 percent from September 2022 to September 2023, with data indicating there have been 557 fewer deaths since the previous year.

Duval and Escambia counties have seen a decline of emergency medical service calls, from 176 to 146, for suspected opioid overdose from the same period in 2022.

Meanwhile, Pinellas County has had 406 fewer EMS calls. Pinellas County, another CORE county, had 406 fewer emergency medical service responses during the same time frame, according to the news release.