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Moffitt in Pasco: ‘Transformational’
Pasco County Commission approves $25 million incentive package to kickstart a Moffitt Cancer Center campus. By B.C. Manion
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A deal approved last week by the Pasco County Commission is expected to have consequences far beyond the county’s borders, government and economic development leaders said. County commissioners approved more than $25 million in incentives in an agreement with H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Hospital Inc. The county has agreed to make infrastructure improvements necessary to access the site, at an estimated cost of $24,913,012. It also has agreed to waive, or pay, certain county permitting and impact fees related See MOFFITT, page 9A
COURTESY OF PASCO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INC.
This is the site where H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Hospital Inc., plans to expand its work on a campus in Pasco County.
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COURTESY OF PASCO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INC.
The Pasco County Commission, county staff and representatives of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Hospital Inc. celebrate a deal that is expected to have long-term consequences for Pasco County, and the region.
Drug overdoses increasing in Pasco County By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
During the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, there’s another alarming issue surging in Pasco County — rising fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses. The Pasco Sheriff’s Office has reported 1,491 overdoses (and 268 deaths) from January 2020 to December 2020 — representing a 71% increase from 2019. This includes a singlemonth high of 168 overdoses (39 fatal) in May, agency data shows. Most recently, the month of December proved one of the COURTESY OF PASCO SHERIFF’S OFFICE most troublesome months in This graphic shows fatal and non-fatal overdoses in Pasco County for each month in 2020. Absent is the the past year — with 135 re- month of December, which yielded 135 overdoses and two deaths. ported overdoses and two deaths.The trend continued in 2021, as the first weekend in January record- fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid anal- A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM ed 19 overdoses, with three deaths, gesic similar to morphine but believed to be Rising drug overdoses are trending according to the sheriff’s office. across the nation. 50 times to 100 times more potent. Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco says the Over 81,000 drug overdose deaths ocSaid Nocco:“Heroin and fentanyl are the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated main two killers. When you’re seeing over- curred in the United States in the 12 the county’s substance abuse and doses, it’s fentanyl. It’s sad.When months ending in May 2020.That’s the highmental health problems because you have an overdose and peo- est number of overdose deaths ever more people are dealing with job ple pass away, it’s probably more recorded in a 12-month period, according to and financial losses, loneliness, recent provisional data from the Centers for likely than not that it’s fentanyl.” homelessness and other personal Nocco noted the agency has Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). struggles. While overdose deaths already were on even witnessed instances of car“We’re definitely seeing an exfentanil — an analogue 100 the rise in the months preceding the tremely high spike since COVID times stronger than fentanyl and COVID-19 pandemic, the latest numbers hit with mental health and submost commonly used as an ele- suggest an acceleration of overdose deaths stance abuse, and especially the during the pandemic, the CDC reports. phant tranquilizer. overdoses. There is an absolute “The disruption to daily life due to the Aside from its users, fentanyl correlation there,” Nocco recently and carfentanil offshoots pose a COVID-19 pandemic has hit those with subtold The Laker/Lutz News. threat to the public and to first stance use disorder hard,” CDC director Dr. Overdose survivors have told Pasco Sheriff responders, as they can be ab- Robert Redfield said, in a December news deputies that “they feel like Chris Nocco sorbed through the skin or release.“As we continue the fight to end this they’ve lost human connection through accidental inhalation of pandemic, it’s important to not lose sight of different groups being affected in other with people,” Nocco said. airborne powder. Instead of finding solace in faith, Nocco These substances are coming in from ways.We need to take care of people sufferthinks many turn to substance abuse, and overseas, with stronger and stronger varia- ing from unintended consequences.” According to the CDC, synthetic opioids that, he said, is creating major issues. tions being discovered on the streets, Nocco During the midst of a pandemic, there said, adding,“It’s a very dangerous situation (primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl) appear to be the primary driver of the inare mental health issues occurring that we’re dealing with.” won’t be healed with a vaccination, he said. The overdoses predominantly are occur- creases in overdose deaths, increasing 38.4% “People right now, they’re constantly on ring in the western part of Pasco County, from the 12-month period leading up to edge,” Nocco said. along the U.S. 19 corridor, Nocco said, but June 2019 compared with the 12-month peThese overdoses, Nocco said, are mostly there are also pockets of activity in Land O’ See OVERDOSES, page 9A related to heroin and other drugs laced with Lakes,Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.