National Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week is coming to an end, but our fight to stop the deadly opioid crisis that is claiming 17 lives a day in Florida continues. Since my first day in office, we have been laser focused on combating the opioid crisis and this crucial mission remains a top priority.
Just last week we announced a historic, multibillion-dollar agreement in principle to hold Purdue Pharma responsible for its role in fueling the national opioid crisis, and we continue to aggressively litigate the state’s case against the 11 remaining defendants in one of the most comprehensive opioid cases in the nation.
Our Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse will convene its first meeting next month to begin coordinating local, state and federal resources. This 21-member team will also work to identify best practices and strategies to curb the devastation caused by drug abuse.
Ahead of the meeting, we launched the DoseOfRealityFL.com website to help Floridians who have questions about addiction and where to find help. This new, mobile-friendly website is an extremely important tool in this fight—empowering Floridians to help.
These are just some of the great strides we have made this year in our fight to end the opioid crisis, and I commit to you that I will continue to do everything within the authority of the Office of the Attorney General to combat drug abuse, save lives and build a stronger, safer Florida.
In The News
Florida Attorney General Takes on Purdue Pharma, Spectrum News 13
Attorney General still negotiating Florida’s take of Purdue settlement, WJHG Panama City
Florida Health Officials Investigating Reports of Vaping-Related Illnesses, Spectrum Bay News 9
Florida Attorney General holds vaping round table with health and education experts, WCTV Tallahassee
AG Moody, FDLE, victim advocates warn about at-home sexual assault evidence kits, WINK News
DIY rape kits 'a serious concern' according to Attorney General, First Coast News
Protecting Floridians
Attorney General Moody Announces Guilty Verdict in Real Estate Fraud Scheme
Attorney General Ashley Moody announced that the Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a guilty verdict for an individual who ran a real estate fraud ring in central Florida. An Orange County jury found Miguel Lopez guilty of first degree felony grand theft and conspiracy last week. Together with his wife, a co-defendant, Lopez collected more than $500,000 from close friends and neighbors through a bogus house investment scam.Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Scheming half a million dollars from friends and neighbors trying to invest for the future is reprehensible, and I am proud of my Office of Statewide Prosecution and local law enforcement for working together to solve this case and securing a guilty verdict. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to fight fraud and protect Floridians.” Read More
Attorney General Moody, FDLE and Victim Advocates Warn About At-Home Sexual Assault Kits
Attorney General Ashley Moody, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and victim advocates are warning Floridians about at-home sexual assault kits. The DIY sexual assault kits are marketed as a safe and anonymous option for victims; however, the evidence collected through this process would most likely not be admissible in a criminal case.Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “As a former judge and prosecutor, I have serious concerns about the emergence of at-home sexual assault kits. Victims of sexual assault need to know they have the right to be examined by caring medical professionals and remain anonymous as a non-reporting victim. The evidence collected is safely stored, and chain-of-custody maintained in case the victim chooses to pursue criminal action at a later date. At-home kits raise all sorts of chain-of-custody and evidence integrity questions and I cannot think of a scenario where a judge would allow these kits to be admissible in a criminal case.”
Read More
FDLE completes 3-year sexual assault kit project
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement completed a three-year project to process older sexual assault kits submitted by local law enforcement agencies to FDLE labs following a 2016 Sexual Assault Kit Assessment. Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This is an extraordinary accomplishment and I am grateful to FDLE and all our law enforcement partners who worked diligently to eliminate the backlog of previously untested sexual assault kits. Not only was the backlog eliminated, procedures were adopted and advances made in an effort to prevent future backlogs.” Read More
Events
This week, Attorney General Ashley Moody participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Beacon Point—an outpatient substance-use center in Ocala. The center provides specialized care and mental health services to help reduce the increased load on emergency services fueled by the opioid crisis.
Attorney General Moody with local officials at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn, Ocala Police Chief Greg Graham, AG Moody, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods and Marion County Fire Chief Shane Alexander
Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn, Ocala Police Chief Greg Graham, AG Moody, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods and Marion County Fire Chief Shane Alexander
Attorney General Moody, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez and Department of Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran discussing strategies on how to stop teen vaping. To watch the media availability following the meeting, click here.
Attorney General Moody, Lt. Governor Nunez and Commissioner Corcoran following the group vaping meeting in Tallahassee.
Attorney General Moody announcing the launch of DoseOfRealityFL.com, a website providing a one-stop shop of information about opioid addiction and resources for Floridians to help in the fight to end the opioid crisis.
Attorney General Moody with Florida State Senator Debbie Mayfield in the senator's office.
Attorney General Moody with Florida State Representative Jackie Toledo in the Attorney General’s Capitol office.
