Lake Worth commissioner interviewed on Boston’s Fox25/WFXT.

Were you one of those in attendance at the Scottish Rite Temple last September to hear Asst. State Attorney Al Johnson talk about what was being done to curb the proliferation of so-called ‘sober homes’ here in the City of Lake Worth?

Did you leave thinking nothing was ever going to change?

Think again. A lot has changed since last year but there’s still a lot of work to be done. For example, use this link for the latest very sad news from PBSO Cpt. Todd Baer.

For the entire news segment by reporter Eric Rasmussen and to watch the video use this link:


“Stop sending your loved ones to South Florida because we’re sending them back in body bags,” said [Lake Worth City Commissioner Andy] Amoroso.


LAKE WORTH, Fl. - In the midst of a statewide public health crisis involving opioid overdose deaths, leaders in South Florida are urging out-of-state patients seeking recovery to go somewhere else for help.
     The message comes as 25 Investigates found at least a dozen people from Massachusetts and New Hampshire have overdosed and died in Palm Beach County while seeking recovery since 2015.
     Lake Worth City Commissioner Andy Amoroso said he’s lost friends and relatives to addiction and he now sits on a task force dedicated to fighting the heroin epidemic and to cleaning up so-called “sober homes.” [emphasis added]
     But when it comes to out-of-state addicts seeking treatment in Palm Beach County, he doesn’t mince words.
     “Stop sending your loved ones to South Florida because we’re sending them back in body bags,” said Amoroso.

and. . .

     A 25 Investigates review of the records revealed at least a dozen of those people were from Massachusetts and New Hampshire while seeking recovery.
     Authorities in Palm Beach County have since stepped up efforts to prosecute a crime known as “patient brokering,” where people fighting addiction are offered free flights, insurance and other giveaways to get them into particular programs.

and. . .

     “If their insurance stops paying or they relapse, they throw ‘em out, but there’s a full circle of people who are grabbing those people who relapse and putting them right back in the system,” said Amoroso. “Getting them new insurance and that’s where the money is.”