Drug Testing in Orlando, Florida

Orlando, FL - Drug testing

Substance abuse statistics for Orlando, FL

Orlando, FL: Drug abuse trends

The opioid epidemic in Orlando, as in many other parts of the country, intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased isolation, anxiety, and difficulty accessing professional help contributed to a rise in drug abuse and overdose deaths, particularly those involving fentanyl. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, drug overdoses increased by over 30 percent between September 2020 and February 2021.

The National Center for Health Statistics stated that drug overdoses have increased by more than thirty percent from September 2020 to February 2021. In the year 2020, the number of fatal overdoses increased by 37 percent. Of course, this led to a significant increase in drug-involved emergency department visits. However, in 2022, Orange County and Orlando saw a decrease in overdose fatalities, likely due to the availability of Narcan and the implementation of local initiatives.

Local initiatives to curb drug abuse in Orlando, Florida

Florida is attempting to curb the opioid epidemic through multiple initiatives. In 2019, an initiative called Project Opioid was launched in Central Florida, planning to take a different approach to solve the opioid crisis. This consortium focuses on community awareness and education to unite people in their efforts to reduce opioid abuse and addiction.

The Florida Courts Opioids and Stimulants Response is another initiative responding to the state's drug abuse and addiction numbers. This initiative focuses largely on the opioid problems in the state, and stimulants were added in 2020 to address issues of cocaine and methamphetamine. The initiative hosts training events throughout the year and spreads awareness of drug epidemics.