Board recognizes Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance for its dedication to combating drug epidemic
During its June 5 meeting, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners presented a proclamation recognizing June 6 as Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. Accepting the proclamation were Ellen Snelling, Board Chair of the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance, and resident Wanda Broughton, who lost her grandchild to fentanyl poisoning.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl poisoning was the number one cause of death in the nation among individuals aged 18 to 48, claiming two-thirds of the more than 107,000 lives lost to drug overdoses in 2021. The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners observes June 6 as Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day to remember and honor loved ones who lost their lives to fentanyl poisoning, and to raise awareness about the threat that fentanyl poses within the community and the nation.
After accepting the proclamation, Broughton thanked the Board and stressed the importance of combating the epidemic and fentanyl-related crimes.
"Nothing can prepare you, nothing, they don't prepare you for how deadly this fentanyl is," she said. "And we need to fight back, and we need to fight back now. We need to fight back strong, and I think that this proclamation and this declaration of Fentanyl [Prevention and] Awareness Day is a really big step towards getting further resources that we need to combat this problem."
Additionally, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and longtime Hillsborough County resident Wade Boggs joined the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to present the 2024 Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award to Bloomindale High School graduate Cooper Hinson.
Interested in all the details about the latest BOCC meeting? Here is a full recap.
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