In Marion County, Attorney General Ashley Moody says border security key in fight against drugs

Law enforcement officials can now get Narcan, a powerful mist given to those suspected of a drug overdose, from Walmart.

The announcement was made at a press conference held Thursday afternoon at the Marion County Sheriff's Office's Emergency Management building.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody presided over the event, which was attended by local officials including Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken, County Commissioner Michelle Stone, County Administrator Mounir Bouyounes and Marion County Fire Chief James Banta, and gave statistics on how deadly fentanyl is to the state and the nation.

Moody said the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) numbers show that more than 112,000 Floridians were killed from drug overdoses in fiscal year 2021-2022. In the 1980s, when former first lady Nancy Reagan introduced the "Just Say No" campaign, 3,000 Americans died nationwide from drug overdoses.

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The attorney general said since 2019, there has been a 60 percent increase in overdose deaths nationwide.

Two years ago, law enforcement officials seized enough fentanyl statewide to kill everyone in Florida, Moody said.

Moody said well-traveled highways like Interstate 10 and 75 are drug-trafficking routes, and that the DEA in 2023 confiscated more fentanyl than in the organization's entire history.

Though Moody called the impeachment of the director of Homeland Security for his handling of the border welcome news, she said more needs to be done. She said President Biden and others need to do more to secure the border and stop illegal drugs from flowing into the country. She said the state would be better off "If we secure the border."

"The fight is not yet over," Moody said.

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Locally, Sheriff Billy Woods said 221 people have died from drug overdoses in the last three years in Marion County. So far this year, 11 people have died.

Woods said it's important for local officials to partner with state and federal officials to combat the drug problem. He welcomed the notion that Narcan can now be obtained by authorities from Walmart. He said not only are law enforcement officers exposed to fentanyl, but also their K-9s.

Recently, he said the county's Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team, or UDEST, consisting of local, state and federal officials, took 4 pounds of fentanyl off the streets. That's enough to kill 900,000, he said.

County fire rescue personnel transported 1,400 overdose patients last year, Woods said.

Nearly three years ago, Woods, Balken and other dignitaries traveled to the border where they saw the problems at the border firsthand

FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said "fentanyl is everywhere," and he too has visited the border where there's a drug manufacturing plant nearby that ships its supplies across to the U.S.

Glass said his department assists law enforcement officials with drug-trafficking investigations, and the goal is to get street buys and those at the top. He warned that if they don't stay on top of it, there could be serious consequences.

Robin Lanier, vice president of SMA Health Services, previously known as The Centers, said they provide resources and help to those addicted to drugs.

Lanier talked about the Amnesty Program, which is available for anyone who needs help. Created by former OPD Chief Greg Graham and city officials, anyone who feels they have a drug problem can go to the OPD, tell an officer they need help, and the officer will take them to a center for treatment.

Those who feel they need help can call 1-800-539-4228.

Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano said he's a recovering drug and alcohol abuser. He mentioned about having several overdoses, and a stint in the hospital that almost ended his life.

At times, Marciano said he had to have a drink to function. He contemplated suicide and almost went through with it, but a call from his mother saved him. He said he went to SMA and now he's healed, married with children, has a business and is mayor.

"There's a way out," Marciano said.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Florida AG Ashley Moody in Ocala addresses fentanyl overdoses