Jon Essenburg News Today

Thousands die from opioid overdoses in Florida each year. Research suggests states that haven’t expanded Medicaid coverage are passing up an opportunity to lessen the toll.

Officials say the pandemic and dealers who mix fentanyl with other drugs have contributed to the increase in overdose deaths in Florida.

In November 2019, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a public warning about such pills. The DEA reported that more than a quarter of pills seized across the nation in early 2019 contained traces of fentanyl. “These arent just people with opioid dependence who are dying,” Clarke said. “These are teenagers who think theyre doing a Xanax and a beer, and theyre not. And the thing with fentanyl is you dont get a second chance.” Fentanyl’s Rise Fentanyl wasn’t always as prev...