Opioid & Stimulants Initiative

The opioid and stimulant epidemics have become an alarming reality nationwide. Impacts are apparent throughout Florida’s State Courts System where judicial officers and staff members serving in a variety of court divisions have been or will be involved in the judicial administration of cases involving individuals with drug addictions and substance use disorders.

The Florida Courts Opioids & Stimulants RESPONSE (FCOSR), formerly the Florida Courts Opioid Initiative, is a statewide judicial branch response to Florida’s opioid and stimulants crises, involving both statewide and circuit-specific efforts. The initiative, as coordinated through the Office of the State Courts Administrator, focuses on enhanced awareness and effective ways to address these dual epidemics, especially through actions of the problem-solving courts and family courts. In late 2020, the initiative was expanded to include stimulants (such as Meth and Cocaine).

This initiative includes:

• Circuit Champions. Chief Judges and Trial Court Administrators throughout the state identify judges and court staff “champions” who have agreed to be local subject matter experts regarding opioids and stimulants. Florida now has approximately100 Circuit Champions from all 20 circuits. The Champions participate in trainings, self-study, and leadership activities, including outreach to others in their respective circuits for creating a community of shared learning. In February 2021, as part of its support role for the Champions, FCOSR launched a Circuit Champions Training Academy to expand upon training opportunities and facilitate networking among circuits. Champions roster currently being updated.
• Opioid & Stimulants Awareness Month. Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz issued a proclamation for September 2023 to be known within the State Courts System as a month of awareness regarding opioids, stimulants, and the treatment of related substance use disorders. Awareness Month is an annual happening in the state courts.
• Training Events. FCOSR organizes and hosts year-round events featuring state, national, and local experts. Virtual events are underway for 2023. All are available to judges, court staff, and court partners, live and at no charge. Continuing Judicial Education (CJE) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits are available or pending along with on-demand recordings.
  Upcoming events are announced here. Recordings can be found on this webpage for 2023 webinars and events from 2021 and 2022 on still timely topics, along with a Leadership Spotlight interview with a prominent expert. CJE and CLE certificates appear with the recordings -- and recordings plus certificates are also available here for 2020 events. From 2020-22, FCOSR hosted a Scholarship Initiative for Champions and others from the courts to attend national conferences. A statewide Champions Summit was also held throughout September 2023, with Summit On-Demand to be released soon.
• Web-Based Resources. A variety of resources are available to the courts, with others in development. Event information appears above. E-Learning modules and an online education resource platform provide training and technical assistance for judges and court staff with this learning management system. Fact sheets about opioids and other relevant resources are included in the Resource Library.  A Courts Connect judicial app was made available to court officials and staff beginning in October, 2021 and has been adapted to a new virtual notification resource. An e-bulletin is distributed statewide with announcements and other timely information (sample here). Other resources are added to this website on a periodic basis.
• Research & Analysis. Research on priority concerns is undertaken by contracted specialists. In-house research and data analysis are also done to assist the mission of the courts. Statewide surveys are conducted periodically along with participation in national initiatives.
• Other Roles & Activities. Among FCOSR’s other responsibilities are liaison with partner organizations, varied special projects and pilot initiatives, management of vendor contracts involving research projects on opioid and stimulant topics, and e-commerce technical and multi-media deliverables.

Thank you for your interest in the Florida Courts Opioids & Stimulants RESPONSE. Should you need to contact us, our email address is: FCOSR@ngskmc-eis.net. Our office is small and busy, and we’ll respond to inquiries as quickly as possible.