ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Three Tampa Bay area counties have been named “hotspots” for higher-than-expected 911 dispatches for drug overdoses.
That’s according to the National Drug Early Warning System, a partnership between University of Florida, Florida Atlantic University, and New York University.
The latest map covers the time frame of March 21-27.
Three out of the five counties lighting up as overdose dispatch hotspots are in the Bay area: Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough.
The map shows Pinellas color-coded purple, which means those were opioid overdose dispatches.
Pasco and Hillsborough are color-coded orange, which means non-opioid responses. Those were 911 dispatches to help people overdosing on cocaine, cannabis, LSD, or suspected overdoses where naloxone — widely known by the brand name Narcan — doesn’t work.
I-75, a known drug pipeline, connects all three of these Tampa Bay counties.
Last year, 10 Investigates talked to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office about what they’re doing to stop the flow of fentanyl on the highway.
Narcotics K-9 Flash and his handler Deputy Anthony Kasperitis are part of the agency’s Highway Interdiction Team, known as HIT.
“HIT’s primary goal with the sheriff’s office is to disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics,” Deputy Kasperitis said last year.
He said fentanyl has changed how HIT deputies are able to use K-9s.
They’ve stopped letting their K-9s go into a car after they’ve sniffed and alerted. They’re worried the dogs will overdose.
“I don’t want to run the risk of my dog putting his nose on it,” Deputy Kasperitis added. “He’s my buddy. He’s my buddy 24/7. I spend more time with him than I spend with my family.”
HIT Deputy James Dunn said his team encounters fentanyl on a daily basis.
“It affects everyone’s lives. Most of the crime we have within Pasco County is because of drugs. You have these people that use the drugs, and they have to have a way to fund their drug habit, so they go out and commit other crimes. So, it affects every single neighborhood,” Deputy Dunn said last year.
You can subscribe to the National Drug Early Warning System’s weekly briefings here.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, you can find resources here.
You can also see all of 10 Tampa Bay’s in-depth reporting on the fentanyl epidemic in our series, “Overdosed.” These stories explore possible solutions like drug testing strips, safe places to use, and tougher prosecution for those who deal deadly drugs.