Lubbock rehab center warns of drug crisis following spike in overdoses in TX cities

LUBBOCK, Texas — Austin city officials reported seeing a 1000% increase in call demand for overdoses Monday afternoon responding to 51 overdoses with four of those people dying.

Austin authorities say they are not exactly sure of the substance that caused the spike but they believe it is some kind of opioid.

Although UMC EMS reported we have not seen any numbers like Austin has, overdoses always are a concern.

“It is something we really need to be aware of,” said Averie Holder, clinical director at Stages of Recovery Lubbock.

Holder said their treatment center helps those through their addiction and mental health journey with different options for a program that fits the patient.

“We’re an outpatient treatment center for substance use disorder, so the services we offer, obviously traditional treatment and outpatient,” Holder said.

In helping those fighting addiction, Holder said of the 52 people currently in their program, 25% of those patients have been diagnosed with opioid abuse disorder.

“We see a lot of crystal meth, a lot of cocaine and alcohol but specifically, opioids,” Holder said.

Holder said those coming in with these addictions are typically also addicted to the deadly drug fentanyl, which has been laced into the majority of street drugs.

“If you buy anything out there [like] Xanax, think you’re snorting cocaine, or using another substance, there’s a high probability that fentanyl is in that substance,” Holder said.

Averie said substance abuse is something she can relate to herself, she’s currently 6 years sober.

“I didn’t know how bad it could get until I was at that moment where it got bad and ultimately led me to a life of recovery, which I’m forever thankful for,” Averie said.

House Representative for District 84, Carl Tepper, spoke with us on what lawmakers are doing to combat this crisis that he said is coming from the south.

“We’re losing kids over it every day, so please warn your children, warn your young adults,” Tepper said. “We also need to continue to try to secure the border, we need to plead with the federal government, we need to plead with Congress that they need to secure that border because that’s where the fence is flowing over the border.”

Averie said she hopes to be a part of that change in others’ lives back here at home, giving them the tools they need, to make it out of substance abuse alive.

“I know exactly what it feels like and it’s not a fun situation, and I think that all of us here at stages are willing to get in the trenches and help battle with this client as they try it literally to fight for their life,” Holder said.

For more information on Stages of Recovery Lubbock, click here .

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