JTA and Drug Free Duval unveil new bus to provide free opioid overdose prevention training

JACKSONVILLE, Florida. – The Jacksonville Transportation Authority and Drug Free Duval held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for a new branded bus that will provide free opioid overdose prevention training and doses of Narcan to high-risk communities.

The ceremony took place at the Jacksonville Transportation Center in the LaVilla neighborhood. The life-saving “Safety on the Move” bus is the first of its kind in the country.

“We all know that drug overdoses and overdose deaths continue to rise in Florida and the United States, and in 2022, JTA proactively partnered with Drug Free Duval to establish an opioid overdose prevention program. This program should be a sign of hope,” said JTA CEO Nathaniel Ford.

Partners in the initiative include the Jacksonville Community Coalition Alliance, the Center for Disease Control's Overdose Response Strategy and the DEA's High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

“We are fighting a tough battle, it's really tough, and we don't get a lot of support. People don't like to talk about drugs, it's not a nice subject,” said Susan Pittman, founder of Drug Free Duval.

Last year, there was a demonstrated need for the bus as there were 1,833 fatal opioid overdoses in Florida, according to the Florida Health Charts Substance Use Dashboard.

If you or someone you know needs help with opioid addiction, you can contact the National Drug Helpline at 1-844-289-0879.