It is International Overdose Awareness Day and a number of events are taking place throughout Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.
Recently, Palm Beach County commissioners also proclaimed September to be National Recovery Month.
At one time, Delray Beach was once dubbed the epicenter of the overdose epidemic. While this year, overdose deaths overall in Palm Beach County appear to be less than last year, community advocates said the fight against opioids is constantly changing.
At the HUB in Delray Beach, a community center providing resources and help to those in recovery, groups are celebrating the progress and programs that exist today to help anyone fighting addiction.
WPTV found that to date this year, Palm Beach County has recorded 206 opioid overdose deaths and more than 90 cases are still pending, that’s still less than 343 deaths in 2021 for the same time period.
Although the numbers show a decline in deaths so far, the Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition said there is always a new threat.
“Literally, got a flyer across the desk today of another variant which is generally targeted right at kids,” said special projects director Micah Robbins. “It’s brightly colored, it’s highly potent, highly deadly and it’s starting to make its way into this community. So, we have to keep our eye on everything all the time.“
Rainbow fentanyl is a new synthetic opioid in powder and pill form and is very dangerous.
Martin County held a town hall on Wednesday to address the opioid crisis.
Data from district 19’s medical examiner office, which Includes Indian River, Okeechobee, St. Lucie and Martin Counties, shows more than 50 people have died from fentanyl overdoses this year. That number is about the same as last year.
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