Governor Rick Scott was in Naples Thursday, recognizing two Collier County deputies who helped save the life of a man overdosing on opioids last week. Corporal Matthew Piccoli and Corporal Cari Depasquale assisted EMTs in administering Narcan to save the man's life, after the man's friend called 911.
"When we got there he was overdosing, and that's when we hit him with the Narcan a couple of times," said Cpl. Piccoli.
"I think heroin right now is a huge epidemic in our community," he added. "We're facing an uphill battle."
Depasquale praised the man's friend for doing thing to prevent a fatal overdose.
"Hopefully people will reach out and not be scared to call us, and get the help they need for their friends," she said.
Governor Scott is recommending $53 million in the state's budget to be used to combat opioid abuse. The legislation, HB 21 and SB 8, follows Scott's proposal to limit instances of drug addiction, give vulnerable Floridians the support they need, and ensure that law enforcement have resources to protect Floridians impacted by opioids. Both bills are advancing in the state's legislature.
"I also propose restricting the amount of days that a physician can prescribe opioids," Scott said.
