AUSTIN (KXAN) — Drug-induced accidental deaths in Travis County are falling, Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Travis County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Keith Pinckard said during a news conference Monday.
The 2024 Travis County Medical Examiner report shows accidental drug-related deaths dropped by 22% in Travis County, which fell from 486 in 2023 to 380. Fentanyl deaths also saw a decline, dropping from 279 in 2023 to 179 in 2024.
Local leaders attribute that drop to increased funding of more than $6 million in recent years, as well as the work of local organizations.
“We had somebody come in front of Texas Harm Reduction Alliance on 1803 E. Cesar Chavez. They threw their car into park and they screamed, ‘Narcan.’ We had a team run out to the street and reverse this man’s overdose. It took three doses and three people to pull this person out of the car. But EMS showed up right after and saved this person’s life. A week later, he showed back up and thanked everybody who was on site that day. So, the community knows these resources are available, and they are saving lives, ” Maggie Luna, executive director with the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance, said.
Austin-Travis County EMS officials said in March that opioid-related deaths declined for the first time in nearly a decade as opiate bridge programming enrollment increased.
“We are seeing a decline, finally,” ATCEMS Assistant Chief Stephen White said at the time. “It has been since 2016 that we’ve been able to say that.”
As a way to prevent overdoses, experts suggest to never use drugs alone or behind locked doors. Tell someone if you have Naloxone. Experts said to look for signs to prevent an overdose from happening to someone. Those signs include confusion, small pupils or trouble staying awake.
If you suspect an overdose is happening, give Naloxone and call 911, experts said.
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