Manatee Sheriff Says Deaths From Drug Overdoses Are Down

BRADENTON, FL – During a press conference Tuesday, Dec. 19, Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells announced that his office is making headway in its efforts to reduce the number of drug overdose deaths in Manatee County.

After Manatee County earned the disagreeable distinction of having the most deaths from illegal drug overdoses in the state, Wells launched Operation Hot Batch in November 2016 in the hopes of getting a handle on the county’s drug problem.

The joint operation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service targeted the distribution of controlled substances that are being mixed with heroin and cocaine. In particular, the sheriff's office has focused on the distribution of carfentanil, a derivative of the powerful opioid painkiller, fentanyl.

Carfentanil, which is 100 times more powerful than morphine, can have deadly results when cut into illegal drugs.

In 2015, Manatee County led the state in deaths by drug overdose with 153 dying. In 2016, the number rose to 182 death. Of those deaths in 2016, 95 were directly attributed to carfentanil.

“If you live through one dose of it, you’re lucky,” Wells said during a press conference earlier this year.

But Wells believes Operation Hot Batch is turning the tide.

In its most recent efforts, Operation Hot Batch led to the arrest of more than 30 drug traffickers. Law enforcement officials also confiscated a large amount of drugs, weapons and more than $150,000 in cash.

As a result, he said, his office has seen a significant drop in drug overdoses. From January to July of this year, the sheriff’s office responded to 180 overdose calls with 18 resulting in deaths. During that same period in 2016, the sheriff’s office fielded 986 overdose calls with 79 resulting in deaths.

‘We’re making a difference,’ Wells said.

Photos via Manatee County Sheriff's Office