891 Heroin Overdoses, 60 Deaths: Manatee County’s Year So Far

BRADENTON, FL — The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has fielded 891 suspected heroin overdose calls since 2016 began. Sixty of those calls resulted in deaths.

With several months left in 2016, the sheriff’s office is once again warning of the dangers this drug can pose. In particular, deputies are concerned about the use of such drugs as fentanyl and carfentanly that are often mixed in with heroin sold to users.

“Fentanyl and carfentanyl are much stronger than heroin and are attributed to many of the fatal overdoses,” an email from Dave Bristow, sheriff’s office spokesman, warned.

The sheriff’s office on Tuesday, Oct. 18 also released the results of an operation designed to crack down on illegal drug sales throughout the county. During the several month investigation, “Undercover detectives purchased heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and carfentanil that resulted in 79 arrests on 264 charges,” the email said.

Heroin is a concern in many counties across the state. Manatee County, however, is considered by some to be the epicenter of Florida’s heroin crisis. In 2014, Manatee County had more heroin overdose deaths per capita than any other county in the state.

Total drug-related deaths in Florida increased by 13.9 percent in the first half of 2015 compared to the first half of 2014. “Deaths caused by heroin increased by 114.8 percent (171 more) compared with the first half of 2014,” according to a Florida Medical Examiners Commission report released earlier this year.

The interim report drew data from counties across Florida to paint a picture of the Sunshine State’s drug-related deaths. While the report covers all drug-related deaths, lawmakers from the Florida delegation intend to meet on Thursday in Washington, D.C., to specifically address the state’s “heroin crisis.”

The Florida Medical Examiners Commission report outlines the number of heroin-related deaths by medical examiner districts, rather than county. In the Tampa Bay area, the number of deaths between January and June 2015 were reported as follows:

• Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties – 34 with 29 of those deaths attributed to heroin and 5 with heroin present
• Hillsborough County – 19 with 17 deaths attributed to heroin as the cause and two with heroin present
• Pinellas and Pasco counties – 8 with 7 attributed to heroin and 1 with heroin present

Statewide, 343 deaths with heroin involved were recorded between January and June 2015. Of those deaths, 320 were caused by heroin, the state’s report said.

Nationally, it is estimated that 125 Americans die from drug overdoses daily.

Nearby Sarasota County has also been fighting an uphill battle in regard to heroin overdoses in 2016. In September, law enforcement there issued a plea after receiving 44 overdose calls that resulted in eight deaths in a two-month period.

"We're seeing people selling fentanyl and carfentanil as heroin and cocaine,” said Sarasota Police Lt. Randy Boyd in September. “Users are unaware that it's not heroin or cocaine. People are dying in our community. We have to bring awareness to this crisis.”

To view the entire Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons by Florida Medical Examiners Interim Report 2015, visit the Florida Department of Law Enforcement online.

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