PROJECT OPIOID

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Overdose deaths in Central Florida have hit historic highs, according to new data. Last year in Central Florida, an average of 58 people died from an overdose every 30 days. A report just released by the nonprofit Project Opioid finds overdose deaths across the states are up 190% since 2015 and are soaring in Central Florida. In Seminole County, community partnerships and programs are attempting to address both substance use and mental health. READ: Overdose deaths up from last year across Central FloridaClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Project Opioid is set to discuss the latest overdose crisis data at the Citrus Club in Orlando Thursday morning, organizers announced.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Six Orlando police officers are recovering from possibly being exposed to fentanyl Wednesday. Nonprofits fighting back against the drug in Central Florida don’t want anyone to make light of how dangerous the drug is. “A minimal amount of exposure could cause overdose and even death,” said Project Opioid board member Timothy McKinney. “It’s incredibly serious.”READ: Orlando police officers released from hospital after possible fentanyl exposureProject Opioid is a nonprofit that is doing work in Central Florida to raise awareness and educate. “We’re making billboards available throughout Central Florida, reaching the general public, educating them on the fact that one pill can kill you,” McKinney said.

The Everyone Campaign is set to focus on the dangers of drugs like fentanyl and help people who are struggling with the opioid crisis by using marketing billboards.

Project Opioid, a Florida-based initiative team that works alongside the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, is set to introduce a new advocacy campaign next week, according to a news release.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Opioid deaths are taking hold across Central Florida. On Wednesday, Project Opioid said between 80% and 90% of overdoses are caused by the dangerous drug fentanyl. Andre Bailey, founder and CEO of Project Opioid said overdoses are rising at an unprecedented rate. The increases are in almost every community in Central Florida, and fentanyl is driving this crisis. Sheriff Dennis Lemma said to combat the issue, drug dealers need to face stiffer penalties.

A Florida-based initiative teamed up with the Seminole County Sheriff’s office Wednesday to release a new report about a historic rise in local opioid overdose deaths.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Church leaders and law enforcement are working together to address the rise in overdose deaths within the last year. “What we are seeing is a perfect storm of the previous overdose crisis now colliding with COVID-19 and driving the numbers of deaths from overdose to historic levels,” Andrae Bailey, CEO of Project Opioid said. Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma, a coach for Project Opioid, said they are working to bring more community programs to reach those struggling with opioid addiction. “We’ve incorporated a lot in various programs in Seminole County and this project with project opioid brings the faith community together, the business community together and the public sector to come up with real reasonable solutions,” Lemma said. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6′s coronavirus newsletter and go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Leaders at the University of Central Florida, alongside members of Project Opioid, addressed the issue of opioid abuse and their plan to attack it during a meeting in Orlando Tuesday. During the meeting, called "A Prescription for Change: Finding Solutions for the Opioid Crisis in Central Florida," the leaders shared their findings in a report on the region's opioid crisis. "When UCF releases data saying that 68,000 individuals in our community have dependency of opioids, many of them have no treatment or help," Project Opioid founder Andrae Bailey said. According to numbers shown during a presentation at the event, more than 1,083,000 opioid prescriptions were written in Central Florida in 2018. @UCF & Project Opioid showing Data-Report on Central Florida's Opioid Crisis to community leaders.

Central Florida is grappling with the rise of addiction and deaths related to the opioid crisis. The Central Florida Initiative on Opioid Abuse, or Project Opioid, has been established to begin a conversation about this critical issue facing our community. Copyright 2019 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.