Florida Fentanyl Deaths Down Nearly 60% Since 2023, Governor DeSantis Announces
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced in Orlando on October 20 that fentanyl-caused deaths in Florida have fallen by nearly 60% since 2023, citing new data from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission's 2025 Annual Drug Report. Fentanyl caused nearly 5,000 deaths in Florida in 2023; by 2025 the figure had declined to approximately 2,000, nearly 3,000 fewer deaths a year. From 2024 to 2025 alone, fentanyl-caused deaths decreased 37%, while deaths caused by fentanyl analogs declined by more than 50%.
The report also recorded broad declines across drug categories from 2024 to 2025: total drug-related deaths fell 12%, opioid-caused deaths 33%, cocaine-caused deaths 16% and methamphetamine-caused deaths 23%. The governor's office credited the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (S.A.F.E.) grant program, established by DeSantis in 2023, which has so far resulted in almost 3,000 arrests of drug traffickers and dealers and major seizures of narcotics.
"Fentanyl-caused deaths in Florida have declined by nearly 60% since we launched the S.A.F.E. grant program in 2023," DeSantis said, adding that the state will continue supporting law enforcement. Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Larry Keefe said FDLE agents and partners work every day to disrupt the flow of fentanyl into Florida communities and will keep using every lawful tool to protect Florida families.
Seizure figures released by the governor's office for the S.A.F.E. program also include more than 600 pounds of fentanyl, over 65,000 fentanyl pills, nearly 800 pounds of cocaine, more than $6.6 million in cash and nearly 1,000 firearms.
(GSM, from the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis release of October 20)
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Tallahassee 的佛罗里达州议会大厦新旧两楼。图片来源：DXR／Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 4.0 / Photo: The old and new Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee. Source: DXR / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
