Leaders gathered on Monday to find out how big the heroin epidemic is in Central Florida.
The Orange County Medical Examiner presented numbers of heroin-related overdose deaths in Orange and Osceola counties.
Orange & Osceola County Heroin Related Deaths & Orange County Specific:
- 2011 – 19 Heroin-Related Deaths (14 in Orange County)
- 2012 – 26 Heroin-Related Deaths (20 in Orange County)
- 2013 – 49 Heroin-Related Deaths (32 in Orange County)
- 2014 – 90 Heroin-Related Deaths (75 in Orange County)
- 2015 – 101 Heroin-Related Deaths (82 in Orange County) – the Medical Examiner’s Office still has numbers coming in for 2015
Congressman John Mica says despite seeing only a 5 percent increase statewide, Central Florida has been hit hard.
The presentation comes days after a two-year investigation between federal, state and local agencies busted a drug trafficking ring that sold heroin to people along International Drive.
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