Heroin deaths force Medical Examiner budget increase

Sarasota County's budget for the next fiscal year continues to grow, as the the 12th Circuit Medical Examiner’s Office has asked for an additional $185,000 to support its growing workload.

Dr. Russell Vega told the Sarasota County Commission at Friday’s budget workshop that the "impact of the heroin use epidemic on our community” has resulted in an increase of overdose deaths in the region he oversees, from “single digits” two and a half years ago, to 100 this year. 

That region comprises Sarasota, Manatee and Desoto counties, all of which share the cost burden for the Medical Examiner, including the $185,000 increase. Related expenses are divided proportionally to reflect relative populations of the three counties. Sarasota County would be responsible for approximately 50 percent of that total. 

The medical examiner’s office budget would increase by $129,849, or 4.8 percent, if the proposed budget passes, while the total proposed budget for that office is approximately $2.9 million.

Wayne Applebee, interim human services manager of Sarasota County Health and Human Services, said the unusual number of overdoses can likely be attributed to recent success in fighting prescription pill abuse. The result was not unexpected, he said,adding that his agency and several others under the umbrella organization, the Behavioral Health Stakeholders’ Consortium, are trying to determine how to implement preventative strategies.

“We save more money in prevention,” Applebee said. “Spending more money in prevention, we save deep-end dollars substantially off the other end.”

Sheriff Tom Knight said that his jail is one of the only such facilities in the southeastern U.S. with addiction recovery pods, and that public awareness is crucial, as is guidance and help for addicts.

“I don’t believe anyone chooses to become addicted,” Knight said. “It’s important for family or friends to encourage addicts to get into treatment and help them get into recovery.”

Knight also emphasized both the cheapness of local heroin and the presence of fentanyl, a dangerous additive, in its lethality.

Other factors that contributed to the medical examiner’s increased workload include more deaths from suicide and traffic accidents, Vega told the board.