1) healthcare access and quality, and 2) Behavioral health.

Opioid Task Force · 2026-06-09 · agenda_item

The Opioid Task Force of Pasco County is reviewing findings from the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) concerning healthcare access, quality, and behavioral health. This review highlights significant gaps in primary care, mental health, and dental services, with Pasco County having fewer providers per resident than state and national averages. The assessment also details challenges in affording care, with about 10% of county residents lacking health insurance. Behavioral health data shows a high percentage of adults experiencing mentally unhealthy days and a critical shortage of mental health providers. Substance use among youth and adults, along with a rising rate of drug-related deaths, are also key concerns. The review is currently under consideration by the task force, indicating an early stage in the public process. This situation points to potential future needs for expanded healthcare facilities, increased provider services, and support programs. Local contractors, trades, suppliers, and service providers in healthcare, mental health, and related support services may find opportunities as these needs are addressed. Engaging early could provide an advantage before specific plans or bids are finalized.

percentage of Pasco County residents without health insurance

10 %

percentage of adults aged 19 to 64 years without health insurance

16.2 %

primary care physician ratio in Pasco County

968:1

primary care physician ratio in Florida

858:1

primary care physician ratio nationally

879:1

pediatrician ratio in Pasco County

1,367:1

dentist ratio in Pasco County

2,464:1

OBGYN specialist ratio in Pasco County

8,064:1

mental health provider ratio in Pasco County

1,169:1

midwife/doula ratio in Pasco County

13,196:1

percentage of Pasco County adults who received a medical checkup in 2022

78 %

percentage of adults reporting 14 or more mentally unhealthy days in the past month

16.5 %

mental health provider to resident ratio in Pasco County

1,169:1

mental health provider to resident ratio Statewide

693:1

mental health provider to resident ratio nationally

550:1

percentage of students reporting having used illicit drugs by high school

33.3 %

percentage of students reporting having used e-cigarettes or vapes containing nicotine

25 %

percentage of middle school students reporting trying illicit drugs

16.9 %

percentage of middle school students reporting consuming alcohol

11.8 %

percentage of middle school students reporting using a vaporizer or e-cigarette

13.6 %

percentage of Pasco County adults reporting binge drinking

15.6 %

Florida Statewide rate of binge drinking

16.1 %

Pasco County suicide rate

18.9 per 100,000 people

suicide rate by firearms in Pasco County

9.2 per 100,000

hospitalizations due to mental health disorders in Pasco County

1,076 per 100,000 people

Florida Statewide rate of hospitalizations due to mental health disorders

963.2

emergency department visits for mental health conditions in Pasco County

900.7 per 100,000 people

percentage of respondents unable to afford to pay for care

48.0 %

percentage of respondents unable to schedule an appointment when needed

33.6 %

percentage of respondents who cannot take time off work

33.2 %

percentage of respondents whose doctor's office does not have convenient hours

27.6 %

percentage of respondents not sure how to find a doctor

26.4 %

percentage of respondents told they have depression or anxiety

36.3 %

percentage of respondents with high blood pressure/hypertension

33.3 %

percentage of respondents with obesity

28.5 %

percentage of respondents with asthma

16.7 %

fatal overdoses in 2023

328

fatal overdoses in 2024

206

EMS overdose responses in 2023

3,104

EMS overdose responses in 2024

2,549

Naloxone Administered in 2023

1,531

Naloxone Administered in 2024

1,252

Annual drug arrests in 2023

1,758

Annual drug arrests in 2024

1,670

Prescriptions dispensed in 2023

337,715

Prescriptions dispensed in 2024

335,902

Neonatal abstinence syndrome in 2022

20

drug overdose mortality rate in Pasco County in 2024

31.6 per 100,000 people

Florida statewide drug overdose mortality rate

21.3 per 100,000 people

fentanyl-caused deaths in 2022

259

amphetamine-caused deaths in 2022

162

methamphetamine-caused deaths in 2022

171

Licensed Mental Health Counselors supply in 2024

387

Licensed Mental Health Counselors demand in 2024

389

Licensed Clinical Social Workers supply in 2024

376

Licensed Clinical Social Workers demand in 2024

380

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners supply in 2024

119

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners demand in 2024

155

Clinical Psychologists supply in 2024

114

Clinical Psychologists demand in 2024

158

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists supply in 2024

38

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists demand in 2024

59

Psychiatrists supply in 2024

25

Psychiatrists demand in 2024

63

Total Count of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in 2025

638

Sheltered homeless individuals in 2025

227

Unsheltered homeless individuals in 2025

411

Chronically homeless in 2025

172

Sheltered chronically homeless in 2025

6

Unsheltered chronically homeless in 2025

166

Households experiencing homelessness in 2025

536

Veterans experiencing homelessness in 2025

62

Adults with serious mental illness experiencing homelessness in 2025

260

Adults with substance use disorder experiencing homelessness in 2025

204

Adults with HIV/AIDS experiencing homelessness in 2025

8

Adult survivors of domestic violence experiencing homelessness in 2025

60