As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact lives, another epidemic has a surge in record-breaking numbers that have not been seen in the last five years.
In 2016, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department said it responded to 356 overdose calls with 180 of those calls related to opioids. Fast forward to 2020 and the number is up to 385 overdose calls with 243 of the calls being opioid-related.
A program at the forefront of fighting local opioid epidemic, Project Save Lives, began in 2017 as an initiative to track what drugs people are using, identify trends and to help people who want assistance ending their addiction.
It is providing some hope in a time of despair.
To give some perspective, JFRD reported 1,703 overdose calls as of March 13, 2019. This year on March 13, 2020, there had been 2,372 calls.