| On Wednesday, October 29, at 10:00 a.m., Project Overdose will host a major public briefing at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office featuring Sheriff Dennis Lemma and Project Overdose Founder and CEO Andrae Bailey. At the event, they will unveil new data showing the shifting landscape of Florida’s overdose crisis and debut drugalert.ai, a first-of-its-kind AI-powered early detection system that helps communities identify emerging drug threats before they become deadly. The press conference will also include the release of the first statewide DrugTRAC Alert — short for Tracking, Reporting, Awareness, and Coordination — following the detection of carfentanil, one of the most lethal synthetic opioids ever identified, in multiple Florida counties, including Orange and Seminole. The alert warns law enforcement, first responders, and healthcare providers of rising carfentanil activity and urges immediate coordination across agencies to prevent a new wave of fatalities. “Florida has made real progress, but this fight is far from over,” said Sheriff Dennis Lemma. “Tools like these will allow law enforcement and public-health leaders to see emerging threats earlier and respond faster to save lives.” Deaths that surged during the early years of the fentanyl era have fallen sharply since 2022 — including a 28% drop in overdose deaths in Orange County and a 39% decline in Seminole County in 2024 alone. But local officials warn that the threat is evolving as new drug mixtures and synthetic compounds emerge. “This marks a turning point in our ability to get ahead of the crisis,” said Andrae Bailey, CEO of Project Overdose. “For years, we’ve been reacting to overdose deaths after they happen. Now, with this early detection system, we can see what’s coming before it hits — and mobilize the right partners in time to prevent loss of life.” Dr. Kendall Cortelyou, University of Central Florida professor and Project Overdose Research Director, noted that Florida is entering a “fourth wave” of the crisis — defined by mixtures of opioids, stimulants, sedatives, and synthetics. “The only way to manage this complexity is with real-time, localized data,” she said. About Project Overdose Founded in 2018, Project Overdose is a statewide coalition uniting leaders from government, law enforcement, healthcare, business, and faith communities to confront Florida’s overdose and youth mental-health crises through data-driven analysis, education, advocacy, and coordinated community initiatives that save lives. For Media RSVPs, Inquiries, and Interviews, please contact: Andrae Bailey • andrae@projectoverdose.org • (407) 456-0605 |