FLORIDA — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday the expansion of a new opioid recovery program in Florida, the first of its kind in the nation, according to state officials.

The new addiction care network — Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) — is run through the Department of Health, Department of Children and Families, and the Agency for Health Care Administration.

The program was successfully piloted in Palm Bay County for nearly two years and is expanding to twelve counties in two phases. The phase one expansion includes Brevard, Marion, Volusia, Pasco, Clay, Duval, Escambia and Gulf counties.

In 2022, there have already been nearly 2,000 fatal overdoses in Florida, according to the release from the governor’s office.

Last year, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office saw a 72% increase in drug overdose fatalities related to fentanyl, the released said.

Floridians battling addiction can use CORE for “stabilization and to receive medical assisted treatment that is specialized to sustain a clean pathway to success.”

“Addiction is heartbreaking for all involved, and we ultimately want to help people address the stress traumas that led them to addiction,” said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo. “One day the standard of care will address the trauma and the stress, but until then we have the evidence-based practices that exist in place. This program is an applied, intensive application to managing addiction through powerful, effective practice that connects people to what they need to get out of the horrific cycle of addiction.”

DeSantis also announced the appointment of Dr. Courtney Phillips as the first Statewide Director of Opioid Recovery. Phillips will provide support for the behavioral health system and offer clinical consultations for addicts seeking treatment and recovery services.

Phillips, an adult psychologist, currently serves as the Director of Behavioral Health for the Health Care District of Palm Beach County.

“The state of Florida should be proud today to take the lead on systematically tackling the opioid and substance use epidemic with compassion and competent care,” said Statewide Director of Opioid Recovery Dr. Courtney Phillips. “Our state and communities did not choose this epidemic, but today we choose to treat this medical and psychiatric illness like any other, with access, evidence based care, and lifelong comprehensive treatment.”