Seminole County's One Pill Can Kill Campaign Aims to Educate Residents

In recognition of Revive Awareness Day, Seminole County Community Services has partnered with local agencies to shine a spotlight on the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) One Pill Can Kill (OPCK) initiative. In April 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law “Victoria’s Law,” also known as Revive Awareness Day, to be proclaimed annually on June 6. This day is intended to raise awareness of the dangers of opioid overdose and the availability of life-saving Naloxone, a lifesaving opioid antagonist that can reversal an opioid overdose. Victoria Siegel was 18 years old when she died on June 6, 2015 from a drug overdose.

Two years ago, the County’s Community Health Division launched the OPCK awareness campaign in collaboration with Seminole Prevention Coalition and Central Florida Cares. The campaign offered several law enforcement and healthcare agencies the opportunity to have their agency’s vehicle wrapped with OPCK messaging.

Nine Seminole County agencies participated, and 16 vehicles have been wrapped. The wrapped vehicles aim to educate the public of the dangers of counterfeit pills and urges all Americans to take only medications prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. Recently, Seminole County Community Services held a photo opportunity to capture all the vehicles together in anticipation of Revive Awareness Day.

According to the DEA, illegal drug use continues to rise. DEA lab testing formerly reveals that four out of every 10 pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. That number has now risen to seven out of every 10 further emphasizing the need for this awareness campaign.

“There’s been a lot of positive feedback about this initiative,” said Kelly Welch, Seminole County Community Services Division Manager. “These vehicles are very visible in our community and every officer who has received a vehicle or regularly drives one has been provided with talking points and information regarding the OPCK initiative. So, when people ask [about the messaging] they’re able to educate the community and make sure that this awareness is heightened to prevent deaths.”

The participating Seminole County agencies were the following: Sanford Police Department,  Florida Department of Health in Seminole County, Lake Mary Police Department, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, Seminole County Government Community Health, Seminole County Government Community Services, Casselberry Police Department, Longwood Police Department, Winter Springs Police Department, and Health Council of East Central Florida- Care-A-Medix.