Alcohol & Drug Rehab in Daytona Beach, Florida

Substance Abuse Trends in Volusia County

The most commonly abused illicit drugs in Volusia County include prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, cocaine and heroin. Prescription opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine, were the deadliest drugs in Volusia County in 2015, according to the Florida Medical Examiners Commission’s Annual Report. That year, deaths involving illicit drugs included:

In 2016, the Daytona Beach Police Department arrested 21 individuals and sought 16 more accused of trafficking cocaine, heroin and prescription medications during a sting operation. The majority of offenders were trafficking cocaine, but Police Chief Mike Chitwood said the heroin arrests were unusual for the area.

“In my 10 years here we really haven’t seen heroin,” Chitwood told the Daytona Beach News-Journal in July 2016. “In this operation there were five, and last week we served a search warrant (at a home) which was all heroin, and I think we are beginning to see the influx of heroin.”

The most recent drug market analysis by the Central Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program cited pill mills and doctors who overprescribe medications as the source of rampant prescription drug abuse in the area. Mexican drug-trafficking organizations were the primary suppliers of cocaine, meth and marijuana in the region.

Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey

In a 2014 survey of Volusia County middle and high schoolers, 21 percent of students said they’d tried alcohol in the past 30 days. About 13 percent said they tried marijuana, and more than 5 percent said they smoked cigarettes. The drug abuse rates were comparable to the state average for teenagers.

Compared to previous years, cigarette use continued to decline in the county and across the state.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Julie Barrow of One Voice for Volusia told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. “Usually these numbers bring a lot of gloom and doom, but now the numbers are going down.”

About 16 percent of Volusia County middle and high schoolers abused any illicit drug in 2014, down from 18.1 percent in 2012 and almost 20 percent in 2010.

Daytona Drug Abuse Prevention Programs

The Daytona Beach community is committed to preventing addiction before it occurs. A number of local coalitions, councils and organizations support awareness and prevention programs throughout Volusia County.

Too Good for Drugs

The Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) program is a tobacco, alcohol and drug-prevention program targeted at elementary school students. The program teaches students to have clear boundaries and high expectations and provides them with role models and support resources.

JAG Program

The Volusia County Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program supports anti-crime and anti-drug abuse activity. The program awards grants to community organizations that provide drug awareness educational programs to youth, facilitate education for parents and promote other anti-drug activities. The grant also funds mental health services and alternative courts.

Substance Abuse Policy Advisory Board

The Volusia County Substance Abuse Policy Advisory Board researches and recommends policy on drug-related issues to the Volusia County Council. SAPAB recommends the allocation of county funds to address substance abuse problems in the community, including but not limited to funding for the JAG program.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program in DeLand brings police officers to the classroom to teach elementary students to resist peer pressure and avoid dangerous situations. The DeLand Police Department partners with the Volusia County School Board and other community organizations to provide anti-drug education.

One Voice for Volusia

One Voice for Volusia is a community anti-drug coalition that promotes anti-drug and healthy lifestyle behavior in Volusia County. The organization hosts several substance abuse prevention initiatives for youth in the community, including programs that provide safe activities for teens on Fridays and teach students about the laws and consequences of illegal behavior.

Seminole Prevention Coalition

The Seminole Prevention Coalition promotes a safe and drug-free community in Seminole County. The nonprofit works with businesses and community organizations to reduce risk factors for substance abuse in the county. Its Pitch Your Pills campaign aims to increase awareness about the dangers of the prescription drug epidemic.

Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education (NOPE)

The Narcotics Overdose Prevention and & Education task force provides anti-drug educational programs to middle schools, high schools and colleges. The Volusia and Flagler Counties chapter of NOPE works with police departments and parents whose lives have been affected by drug overdose to warn youth about the dangers of illicit drugs. NOPE also provides educational resources for parents.

Community Partnership for Children

The Community Partnership for Children provides child protective services for Volusia, Flagler and Putnam counties. The CPC substance abuse task force hosts regular meetings to educate and inform the community about how drugs are affecting the public.

People for Drug Free Youth

People for Drug Free Youth promotes alternatives to drug and alcohol abuse for teens in Southeast Volusia County. Through educational presentations, the organization raises awareness about the negative effects of drug and alcohol abuse. It also supports a variety of prevention efforts using funds raised through its thrift shop.