Project Opioid Demonstrates Bipartisanship Still Exists

In today’s political environment of ideological extremes and radical demagogues, Democrats and Republicans find few ways to collaborate. It seems that even on the most basic subjects such as transportation, little gets done and there are always points of contention.

However, this does not appear to be the case with Central Florida’s response to the opioid pandemic.

For Central Florida leaders, saving lives seems to override partisan politics. And that's exactly why political and nonpolitical leaders, including judges, mayors, commissionsers, state legislators, and law enforcement from all major Central Florida counties have gathered together in recent years to combat the crisis through "Project Opioid."

Democrat and former State Representative Dick Batchelor knows this better than most, and his story is personal. His sister passed away tragically from opioid abuse and the former legislator recently sat down with the Orlando Local News to discuss her story.

"I tell you this story reluctantly," former state Rep. Dick Batchelor explained. "We had seven kids in our family. My older sister passed away of cancer. My younger sister lived in Maryland. She had some injuries and she was prescribed some opioids. My sister received 120 pills of opioids in each batch. But she became addicted and went to downtown Baltimore with funds that were supposed to be used for a trip to visit family to buy more. We brought her into a program in Orlando and she agreed. We tried to convince her to stay but she left."

"Tragically, she past away in her bed, her heart could not take the opioids," Batchelor told OLN's Marshall Swanson-Polston. "The magnitidue of the crisis in this community requires all of our involvement."

Batchelor's story paints a dire picture. But he's far from the only one ringing alarms bells.

Bailey, a Republican and founder and Chief Executive of Change Everything, agrees with the importance of addressing the situation as well, helping to push the organization's efforts. "This is the beginning of the beginning," Bailey said during a recent interview with the Orlando Sentinel. "The right people are [in the room to change lives]."

Among the project's many supporters and donors, Florida Blue had donate $85k as of 2019, and Democrat Mayor Buddy Dyer, Sheriff Dennis Lemma, and former Republican legislator Andy Garner also remain dedicated advocates for Project Opioid.

Project Opioid has raised 11 million dollars to date but the mission is far from over. To donate, visit their website by clicking on this link.