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From the Chairman of the Medical Examiners Commission <br />On behalf of the Medical Examiners Commission (MEC), I am pleased to provide this <br />Annual Workload Report to each of our district medical examiners. The information <br />included in this report is invaluable to the many interested parties well beyond the <br />boundaries of our medical examiner districts. The MEC believes in the value and worth <br />of compiling statewide data and providing it to the general public and policy makers alike. <br />The Report of Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons provides highly sought after and <br />critical information related to drug deaths in Florida. This unique report continues to track <br />the unfortunate results of the abuse of both prescription and illicit drugs. The report assists <br />Florida's state and local agencies in allocating and focusing their precious resources. <br />Dating back to 1987, this annual report was first conceptualized for tracking deaths due <br />to cocaine, with heroin later added in 1995. The report is constantly evolving. More drugs <br />are tracked as their abuse potential and prevalence becomes known. The Report of Drugs <br />Identified in Deceased Persons has currently evolved to include the tracking of 42 drugs <br />and ethanol. <br />One of the MEC's proudest accomplishments continues to be its joint initiative with the <br />Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Florida's 25 medical examiner <br />districts as we attempt to resolve the approximately 900 unidentified deceased persons <br />in our state. With new technology and advances in forensic science, this project continues <br />to pay dividends for many families seeking closure of a loved one's fate. We will continue <br />to encourage participation and provide access to various resources to reduce the backlog <br />of these unidentified deaths. <br />Thank you for your on-going professional commitment to providing the State of Florida <br />with high quality medical -legal death investigative services. This is very much a team <br />effort and you are to be commended for your exemplary efforts and professionalism. <br />OJJ71 tAlz. <br />Barbara C. Wolf, M.D. <br />Chairman, Medical Examiners Commission <br />October 2024 <br />