Alcohol and drug use are major contributors to motor vehicle traffic crashes, injury, and deaths. Alcohol confirmed motor vehicle traffic crashes are those involving a driver and/or non-motorist who had a blood alcohol content (BAC) greater than 0.00. In 2022, there were 5,262 alcohol confirmed motor vehicle crashes. in Florida. Alcohol is not the only cause of impaired driving. Also in 2022, there were 617 drug confirmed motor vehicle crashes in Florida. These are crashes involving a driver and/or non-motorist who tested positive for drugs at the time of the crash.

December has been recognized as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. It is important to have a plan, especially during the holiday season, whether that includes a designated driver, taxi, or ride share.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. The most common COPD types are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. People with COPD are at increased risk of developing heart disease, asthma, and a variety of other conditions. COPD can result in discomfort, lower quality of life, premature death, lost productivity, and high medical costs from hospitalization. In 2023, the age-adjusted rate of hospitalizations from COPD per 100,000 population was 106.5. In 2022, approximately 7.4% of Florida adults have ever been told they had COPD, Emphysema, or Chronic Bronchitis .

There is no cure for COPD, but lifestyle changes and treatments can help reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life. COPD is one of the ten leading causes of death in the U.S. In 2023, the age-adjusted rate of ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations from COPD among those aged 0-64 years was 58.7 per 100,000 population. In 2023, the age-adjusted rate of emergency department visits from COPD was 506.5 per 100,000 population.

Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. In 2021, the Florida age-adjusted incidence rate of female breast cancer was 134.4 per 100,000. Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States and Florida. In 2022, the Florida age-adjusted death rate from female breast cancer was 19.0 per 100,000 population.

The US Preventative Task Force recommends women between the ages of 40 and 74 to receive a mammogram every 2 years. In Florida, approximately 55.5% of women aged 40 years and older reported receiving a mammogram in the past year in 2022. Approximately 78% of Florida women aged 50-74 years reported receiving a mammogram in the past two years. Screening, such as mammograms, can help find breast cancer at earlier stages, when the cancer may be easier to treat compared to later stages. In 2021, the percentage of female breast cancer cases that were diagnosed at an advanced stage among Floridians was 30.5.

Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries. There are more than 30 types of ovarian cancer. Epithelial ovarian cancer originates in the layer of cells that cover the ovary and the entire abdominal cavity, which is the most common type of ovarian cancer, accounting for roughly 90 percent of all cases. Ovarian cancer may also spread to other areas of the body, referred to as metastatic ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer in the United States, but it causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. In Florida, the age-adjusted death rate from ovarian cancer in 2022 was 5.6 per 100,000 female population. Ovarian cancer incidence is the number of new cases of ovarian cancer in the year. In Florida, the ovarian cancer incidence rate in 2021 was 10.8 per 100,000 female population. Looking at death and incidence rates of the different types of cancers helps inform us about the impact of lifestyle and the effectiveness of screening and treatment.

In 2022, the percent of mothers who initiated breastfeeding was 86.7% in Florida. Breastfeeding provides health benefits for babies and mothers. It is the primary clinical recommendation for infant feeding and nutrition, with breast milk uniquely tailored to meet the health needs of a growing baby. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding is initiated within the first hour of birth and continues for the first 6 months of life. Breastmilk is safe, clean, and contains antibodies which help protect against many childhood illnesses.

In 2020, the percent of women who breastfed for 12 or more weeks was 56.8% in Florida. Also in 2020, the percent of women who were asked by a health care worker if they planned to breastfeed was 89.7% in Florida.

Although breastfeeding initiation rates are high, most women don’t breastfeed for the entire first year. Strategies like education and breastfeeding support may help mothers know their options and potentially breastfeed longer.

Melanoma is a form of cancer that begins in melanocytes (cells that make the pigment melanin). It may begin in a mole (skin melanoma), but can also begin in other pigmented tissues, such as in the eye or in the intestines. In 2021, in Florida, the age-adjusted incidence rate per 100,000 population for melanoma was 26 and in 2011, it was 21.5. In 2022, there were 692 deaths from melanoma in Florida. Also, in the year 2022, 8.3% of Florida adults reported that they were ever told that they have skin cancer. In 2021, the overall estimated percentage of high school students who most of the time or always wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher was 11.8%. To protect the skin and eyes from the sun, the National Cancer Institute suggests the following:

• Use sunscreen that protects against UV radiation.
• Do not stay out in the sun for long periods of time, especially when the sun is at its strongest.
• Wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, sun hats, and sunglasses when outdoors.

Organic dementia is a condition that causes individuals to have difficulty with certain brain functions, including thinking, memory, and reasoning. Organic dementia includes vascular dementia and unspecified dementia, but excludes Alzheimer's disease, dementia caused by other diseases, or dementia induced by substances. In 2022, there were 7,914 deaths from organic dementia. Also in 2022, there were 13.7 emergency department visits per 100,000 population from organic dementia. Dementia can affect someone’s ability to care for themselves, including personal hygiene, nutrition, and safety. Caregivers are often family and each year more than 16 million people in the U.S. provide care for those with dementia. Healthy People 2030 focuses on improving the care and quality of life for people with dementia.

A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. In 2022, stroke was the fourth leading cause of death in Florida. The age-adjusted death rate from stroke was 47.6 per 100,000 population. This is an increase from 2012, when there was a rate of 32 deaths per 100,000 population. In 2022, the age-adjusted hospitalization rate from stroke was 235.8 per 100,000 population. In addition, 3.6% of Floridians have been told they had ever experienced a stroke in Florida during 2022.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Florida. In 2022, the age-adjusted lung cancer death rate was 29.7 deaths per 100,000 population. It can affect people of all ages and may be prevented through regular screenings, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol, and quitting smoking. In 2021, 17,818 Floridians were diagnosed with lung cancer. Talk to your healthcare provider to decide which screening test is right for you.