Opioids

For the first time since 2019, Travis County’s annual medical examiner report shows a significant dip in drug deaths. Total drug deaths decreased 22% from 2023 to 2024, and deaths involving fentanyl fell by 36%.

Texas, including the capital city, was especially hard-hit by a wave fentanyl-related deaths in the past few years. But with the help of overdose-reversing drugs, things are looking better.

Data from the Travis County Medical Examiner’s office shows a 19% decrease in accidental drug deaths from January to July of this year compared to the same time in 2023.

In 2023, 279 people died from a fentanyl-related overdose — up from 245 the year before.

Police officials said they believe crack cocaine that also tested positive for fentanyl is the primary combination that contributed to a string of 79 overdoses last week in Travis County, the largest surge since 2015.

But officials also said overdose-related calls appear to be slowing, partially because of the widespread distribution of Narcan.

More than 30 suspected overdoses occurred in Austin on Monday, with four suspected overdose deaths.

Travis County saw a spike in the number of fatal overdoses last year. Frankie Rae works with a group pushing for “harm reduction.” But these strategies can be controversial, and in some cases, illegal.

Travis County saw a spike in the number of overdose deaths last year. The money will be used to help raise awareness about overdoses.

In the first six months of 2022 alone, there were 118 fentanyl-related overdoses in Travis County. That’s the same number the county saw in all of last year.