As the year 2022 comes to an end, Travis County appears to be on the verge of reporting twice as many fatal drug overdoses than it recorded in 2021. And their medical examiner’s 2021 report shows that overdose deaths in which fentanyl was detected rose by 237%—from 35 in 2020 to 118 in 2021.
Since May, commissioners have tried to tackle this public health crisis with education, prevention, and support, but with the problem growing, county leaders want to attack the issue on more fronts.
They're starting with outreach and recovery support for those in the most danger. Travis County Judge Andy Brown says, “We’re going to vote to support peer support specialists to work with people at the highest risk of dying from a drug overdose."
Travis County also wants to expand the distribution of NARCAN-- a critical first aid treatment for overdoses-- so area bars will have it and staff will be trained in its use. Christie Mokry with Safe Haven Harm Reduction says,
“Overdoses are something that impacts everyone now that fentanyl has poisoned our drug supply."
Phil Owen with Communities for Recovery chimes explains the availability of NARCAN is like having a fire extinguisher at the ready. “No one wants their house to catch on fire,” he notes, “But if you do you certainly want to have a fire extinguisher. We need to carry NARCAN. We need to make it safe for everybody."
Right now the focus is on the clubs and the downtown entertainment district, but that's not the only place where people are dying from drug overdoses. Judge Brown says, “We’re noticing that some of the deaths are occurring in hotels in Austin and along I-35 so I think maybe the next step would be trying to get them in those hotels as well and just anywhere people are.”
And that includes reaching people who never dreamed they'd be abusing drugs. Brown says, “People who maybe their prescription ran out and they’re addicted to that prescription think they’re buying something authentic online but in reality, it’s made with a cheap pill press in China or Mexico or somewhere else and it often contains fentanyl.”
The threat is everywhere.