Turning the Tide: How Seminole County Is Responding to the Opioid Crisis

Seminole County is seeing measurable progress in the fight against the opioid crisis, with overdoses and deaths both declining by nearly half in just three years.

Local data shows overdose incidents decreased 49 percent countywide from 2022 to 2025, while overdose deaths dropped by 48 percent during the same period. Behind these numbers are lives saved, families preserved, and a coordinated community response making a real difference.

For much of the past two decades, opioid misuse has reshaped communities across the nation, and Seminole County has not been immune. What began with prescription painkillers evolved into a more dangerous crisis involving heroin and illicit fentanyl. By the late 2010s, overdoses were impacting families across the community.

Recognizing the growing complexity of these challenges, the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners established the Community Health Division to better coordinate public health efforts. This structure allows Seminole County to align partners, data, and resources across agencies, creating a unified response to issues such as substance use and overdose prevention.

A key partner in that effort is the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, whose Seminole Collaborative Opioid Response Efforts (SCORE) initiative connects individuals who have overdosed with treatment and recovery services. Through rapid follow-up and a coordinated approach that blends enforcement with care, deputies and behavioral health teams help break the cycle of overdose and connect residents to long-term support.

A Community-Driven Strategy

Seminole County’s opioid abatement efforts focus on three goals: preventing overdoses, connecting people to care, and reducing long-term impacts of substance use. Led by Community Health, the strategy brings together public safety, healthcare, nonprofits, and community partners across the county. Key initiatives include:

• Community outreach and education on opioid risks, overdose prevention, and recognizing warning signs
• Distribution of naloxone kits and safe drug disposal options
• Permanent Narcan (naloxone) locations in partnership with the Florida Department of Children and Families
• Public awareness campaigns across billboards, transit, and county vehicles
• Support for law enforcement and courts, including diversion and post-overdose follow-up
• Treatment navigation and recovery services to connect individuals to care
• Youth prevention programs such as I Choose ME and Better Without It

Community Health’s Public Engagement

Community Health will partner with the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County to host an opioid awareness event from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 5, highlighting opioid risks and the importance of having naloxone on hand. The event, to be held at 400 West Airport Boulevard in Sanford, aligns with Florida Senate Bill 66 (Victoria’s Law), which designates June 6 as Revive Awareness Day and encourages education on safe use of opioid antagonists.

During this event, Community Health will review local progress in combating the opioid epidemic, share available recovery services, and invite residents to provide input on how opioid settlement funds – secured through the 2021 national legal settlement with opioid manufacturers and distributors – should be spent. Residents are also encouraged to share their opinions via this survey: Forms.Office.com/g/ EsNQADvqKG.

Access to Recovery, Around the Clock

To ensure timely access to care, Seminole County supports a centralized recovery access point operated by the nonprofit Recovery Connections of Central Florida. Through the 407-732-6837 (407-RECOVER) hotline, residents can reach trained staff members around the clock for information, referrals, and immediate connection to treatment and recovery resources, including medication-assisted treatment, residential programs, intensive outpatient care, peer support, and case management.

Looking Ahead

The opioid crisis did not develop overnight, and solutions take time. Seminole County is demonstrating that with collaboration, strategic investment, and sustained commitment, communities can turn the tide.

James Witherspoon is Seminole County’s Community Health Opioid Program Manager.