The opioid and heroin crisis has become a major public health crisis in Southwest Florida. Crime issues and poverty are tied into the opioid problem. Child neglect and abuse, as well as human trafficking have all increased in Southwest Florida due to the opioid crisis.

I will advocate for the needle exchange program in our community, where addicted patients can return dirty needles for clean ones; this program also  distributes overdose drugs to the drug users, and also offers them substance abuse counseling.

I will advocate to have all first responders have access to overdose reversing agent naloxone. We need to expand the number of treatment beds and/or facilities we have in Southwest Florida . Our community also needs funding to provide more drug treatment centers and for prevention education. We also need to continue educating and persuading physicians to use less opioids.

Our district's battle with the opioid crisis is worsening day by day, and our elected officials have done very little to help with this  major public health issue our community is facing. If elected, I will make sure to implement actions to eradicate our community's opioid crisis.