06/02/2026
DeSantis recently announced a historic decline in drug-related fatalities. The numbers represent a monumental triumph for public safety: statewide drug-related deaths fell by 19%, opioid-caused deaths plummeted by 42%, and fentanyl-caused deaths dropped by a staggering 46%. When contrasted against the peak of the fentanyl crisis in 2021, when 5,791 Floridians lost their lives, the current drop to roughly 1,500 annual occurrences represents a 62% long-term decrease.
This massive victory did not happen by accident; it is the direct result of a governor who understands that public safety demands relentless, unapologetic action. Through initiatives like the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) grant program, Florida has taken a sledgehammer to illicit trafficking networks. The SAFE program has led to over 3,000 arrests and the seizure of 600 pounds of lethal fentanyl. By aggressively targeting cartels and enforcing strict criminal penalties for drug dealers who poison Florida’s citizens, the administration has successfully squeezed the supply of illicit narcotics off Florida’s streets.
Former criminal attorney John Koufos, who now consults on healthcare and justice issues, lauds the work Florida has been doing to combat fentanyl.
