The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Foundation, in partnership with the Florida Blue Foundation, has launched a new effort to address the growing opioid epidemic in Broward County. Project Opioid Broward will build a coalition of business, nonprofit and faith-based leaders to research the local impact of opioid abuse, identify the types of treatment and resources available within the community, and develop an actionable strategy to reduce opioid deaths in Broward County.

In a virtual business briefing on June 29, co-chairs Lisa Lutoff Perlo – CEO of Celebrity Cruises, Shane Strum – CEO of Broward Health and Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony shared their reasons for getting involved. They were joined by event host Alliance Foundation President/Alliance President & CEO Bob Swindell, Florida Blue South Florida Market President Dr. Penny Shaffer, United Way of Broward County CEO Kathleen Cannon, Broward County School Board Chair Dr. Rosalind Osgood, former State Representative Jennifer Webb and Project Opioid Founder Andrae Bailey. The event can be viewed here.

The opioid epidemic surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by the stress of job loss, threat of evictions and the consequences of stay-at-home policies. The global pandemic has dominated our lives for the past year, and it has been quietly intensifying the opioid epidemic. 545 people lost their lives to an overdose in Broward County between January and September of 2020, representing a 24% increase from the same time the previous year.  This alarming increase is related in part to the isolation and economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our research shows:

• The economic impact of the opioid epidemic on Florida is roughly $97.1 billion lost each year in gross regional product and 128,800 workers sidelined from the labor force.
• Deadly fentanyl has reached the state of Florida and is presenting itself in a variety of illicit drugs in Broward County.
• In 2019, prior to the pandemic, Broward County’s opioid overdose rate was already 22.3 per 100,000 population. 

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Foundation, in partnership with the Florida Blue Foundation, is leading Project Opioid Broward as part of a statewide initiative with the ambition of significantly reducing overdose deaths in our state and raising awareness of this critical issue.

“Opioid addiction is having a profound effect on our community,” said Penny Shaffer, South Florida Market President for Florida Blue. “Not only is this epidemic directly impacting our law enforcement, health care and social service providers, but also the economic competitiveness of our region. We need to educate ourselves on this crisis, help other community leaders understand the urgency to act and, ultimately, advocate for the solutions that we know will make a difference.”

“The opioid epidemic has reached its addictive tentacles into all segments of our society – income levels, racial and ethnic groups, professions, and neighborhoods. Opioid abuse threatens the health and economic fabric of our community,” said Bob Swindell, President of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Foundation and President/CEO of the Alliance.

Project Opioid Broward is part of a coalition of Project Opioid initiatives that the Florida Blue Foundation has invested more than $1.7 million in to support communities throughout Florida, including Miami, Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville. “By launching regional coalitions across Florida, the Foundation can support local needs as well as facilitate learning and collaboration among the coalitions to enhance the initiative’s impact,” said Florida Blue Foundation Vice President Susan Towler.

 

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About Florida Blue Foundation
Florida Blue Foundation enables healthy communities by making grants, building coalitions and embracing solutions that create a meaningful impact in our communities. More than 6.5 million Floridians have received services as a result of our community investments since our founding in 2001. The Florida Blue Foundation’s programs are focused on advancing mental well-being, improving health equity, impacting food security and addressing systemic racism and resulting health disparities. It is a trade name of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.  For more information, please visit www.FloridaBlueFoundation.com.

About The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance
The Alliance is Broward County’s official public/private partnership for economic development.  Its mission is to lead Broward County in building a stronger and more diverse economy by stimulating the creation of new jobs and capital investment while facilitating the growth and retention of businesses in Broward County.  Services offered by the Alliance include assistance with business relocation or expansion and site selection; incentive programs and information; market research; and serving as a liaison for workforce development between CareerSource Broward, educational institutions and the business community. The Alliance Foundation supports and leads initiatives to develop more vibrant communities and improve the quality of life for our area’s citizens.  www.gflalliance.org

 

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