The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.

SMJ // Article

Editorial

Declining Opioid Deaths in Palm Beach County, Florida: Clinical and Public Health Messages

Authors: Maria Carmenza Mejia, MD, Robert S. Levine, MD, Lea Sacca, PhD, Belma Andric, MD, MPH, Charles H. Hennekens, MD

Abstract

Since 1999, the United States has experienced more than 920,000 opioid-related deaths, with 36.5% occurring in the Southern Census Region of the United States, accounting for 36.5% of total deaths.1 To place this burden in perspective, opioid-related deaths during this period approach the total number of US military deaths across nearly two and a half centuries.2 During the same time frame, Palm Beach County (PBC), Florida accounted for a small but meaningful proportion of this burden, representing 0.5% of opioid-related deaths and 0.4% of the US population.

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References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2021. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, and from provisional data for years 2023-2024, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. 2026. http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html.
 
2. Blum DA, DeBruyne NF. American war and military operations casualties: lists and statistics. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/trecms/pdf/AD1132996.pdf. Accessed January 9, 2026.
 
3. FLHealthCHARTS. Substance use dashboard. Overview. https://www.flhealthcharts.gov/ChartsDashboards/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=SubstanceUse.Overview. Accessed January 9, 2026.
 
4. Florida Department of Children and Families. Overdose prevention program. https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/samh/opp. Accessed January 9, 2026.
 
5. Johnson H, Paulozzi L, Porucznik C, et al. Decline in drug overdose deaths after state policy changes-Florida, 2010-2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2014;63:569-574.
 
6. Van Arsdale W, Barajas S, Peters D, et al. Is naloxone where it needs to be? Using spatial analytics to examine equitable distribution of community-based naloxone sites. J Subst Use Addict Treat 2025;168:209530.