SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Substance abuse/misuse and mental health issues are a priority in Florida. The opioid crisis is an epidemic and methamphetamine use is again increasing. Depression and PTSD are prevalent among our citizens, especially our veterans. For far too long, addiction and mental illness have been viewed as weaknesses, rather than as diseases. These issues should be addressed as a public health problem, not a social problem. We will strongly advocate moving the Substance Abuse and Mental Health program from the Department of Children and Families to the Department of Health. This will help to change the perception of addiction and mental health problems as personality flaws, and stress that they are illnesses. It will also improve the integration of substance addiction and mental illness into the traditional medical systems. Additionally we will emphasize substance abuse prevention, as this is a much cheaper alternative to treatment later, and it helps our kids stay safe and healthy.

In 1999 Governor Jeb Bush led the establishment of the Office of Drug Control within the Executive Office of the Governor by statute. This office took a three-pronged approach to drug control – treatment, prevention, and interdiction. It had the authority to direct efforts across the various agencies that are involved with drug control efforts, and effectively did so. It leveraged efforts by coordinating with the Department of Children and Families, Department of Health, Agency for Health Care Administration, Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida National Guard, and Department of Education, among other organizations and advocacy groups. These efforts led to the demise of pill mills and the decrease in prescription opioid abuse, among other accomplishments.

The ODC was physically moved from the Florida Capitol to the Department of Children of Families around 2008 by Governor Charlie Crist, and in 2011 Governor Rick Scott led the effort to repeal the statute that had created the office. We will re-establish this office as the Office of Drug Control and Suicide Prevention within the Governor’s Office, and will lobby the legislature to again define this office in statute. The ability of this office to leverage limited funds and other resources is critical to effective and efficient efforts to protect our youth and help our addicted citizens to again become productive contributors to society.

We will also establish at least one full-time position within the Office of Drug Control and Suicide Prevention to work on researching and pursuing grants to supplement existing state and federal funds. Grants available at the state level will be applied for in coordination with appropriate agencies. Information on any grants discovered that are available to local organizations, providers or coalitions will be distributed across the state to assist local efforts.