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Crestview Mayor talks about the rise of opioid deaths as a major cause for concern

“If I told you that one cause of U.S. deaths increased by more than 21,000 people from 2019 to 2020, that equates to over 270 Americans per day, versus the previous year at 198, to then have more than 100,000 die last year to the same cause, would that get your attention?” That’s how Crestview […]

📸 Crestview Mayor JB Whitten - Source: City of Crestview

“If I told you that one cause of U.S. deaths increased by more than 21,000 people from 2019 to 2020, that equates to over 270 Americans per day, versus the previous year at 198, to then have more than 100,000 die last year to the same cause, would that get your attention?”

That’s how Crestview Mayor JB Whitten started his speech to the Fort Walton Beach City council last Tuesday. Mayor Whitten made his address during the public comments portion of the meeting.

Major Whitten spoke about the increase in fatal opioid overdoses. He stated that one of the primary reasons for the increase in deaths is linked to “lacing”. The practice of “lacing” is when two or more substances are mixed together. For example, buying marijuana laced with Fentanyl where the buyer may or may not be aware of it.

The Mayor has started a push for an anti-opioid campaign by inviting the citizens of Crestview, and surrounding areas, to attend a summit on September 30th beginning at 10:00 AM at the Crestview Community Center, located at 1446 Commerce Dr, Crestview, FL 32539.

The founder and CEO of Project Opioid will be conducting the summit to help educate the public and develop actionable plans to reduce the number of deaths due to overdoses. 

  • The mayor has also partnered with the Northwest League of Cities to raise awareness of this summit across the Northwest part of the Panhandle.

“This summit is not about any elected officials,” added Mayor Whitten. “It’s not about the city. It’s about us saving our citizens. I beg you as city leaders to encourage your citizens to attend this free summit.”

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Community Comments

“Very glad to see this project going through,we don’t live here but we brought our bikes here from misssouri and drove over to 30A to ride”
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“I suggest revising this statement: "doubling the number of travel lanes from the current four to six" since doubling four does not yield six.”
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“No there was never one here.”
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“Sad that I know him and had no idea!”
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“One of the most important issue regarding this matter is: was this x-con provided with an opportunity to learn a trade while locked up for 327 months or was he...”
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“Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I seriously question the integrity of the yellow media and low-intelligence commenters for spewing such damagaing rhetoric before this case has even been...”
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“I take it that he only did half of 27 years which is 13 1/2 years .He apparently missed his inmate friends. What made him think he could get away...”
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“How can we get this started at Bluewater ? yeah Mrs Crist , still loving and making a difference in children’s lives .”
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“This is such an awesome idea! Ms. Crist was my daughter Valerie's 2nd grade teacher when Valerie attended Bluewater Elementary School! Ms. Crist was born to teach!! Nellie Bogar, Youth...”
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