If you or someone you know is addicted to opioids you are all too aware of the epidemic sweeping the nation. In Texas, many cities have gone to great lengths to counter the rise in opioid-related deaths. Texas has long been one of the states with the highest number of overdose deaths, which is why the rising rate is so alarming.
Austin is one of the areas in Texas that’s been heavily impacted by the opioid epidemic. After years of tracking the data, things don’t appear to be trending in the right direction. Now local officials are taking bold measures to fund opioid epidemic solutions in Austin, TX
Opioid Deaths in Austin Are Rising
The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office recently released information on overdose deaths in 2021. The number of deaths in the county jumped dramatically, going from just 35 in 2020 to 107 overdose deaths in 2021.
The Austin-Travis County EMS Commander also noted the increase in overdose deaths during an interview with KVUE. He stated that in 2021 EMS crews would handle 20-25 opioid overdoses a month. In the first quarter of 2022 the monthly average was 40-60 opioid overdoses.
If there were a clinical study on opioid addiction in Austin, TX it would surely show that opioid use and related deaths are on the rise. It would also find the common denominator – fentanyl. The prevalence of highly potent fentanyl that is knowing and unknowingly consumed is the primarily culprit for the dramatic increase in overdose deaths in Austin.
Solutions for Putting an End to the Opioid Epidemic
Austin, and the rest of Texas, is committed to curbing the opioid crisis. But this isn’t an instance of criminalizing drug distribution and possession. It’s a matter of saving the people who are addicted to opioids using any means necessary.
Declaring Overdoses a Public Health Crisis
The Austin City Council declared the overdose rate a public health crisis so that more funds could be directed toward combating the problem. Travis County has also made a public health crisis declaration and allocated $350,000 to substance abuse harm reduction measures.
Operation Lone Star
This operation is aimed at getting dangerous fentanyl off the streets. As of April 2022 Operation Lone Star had confiscated 300 million potentially fatal doses of fentanyl.
Free Naloxone Programs
The ultimate goal is to save people’s lives. You may not be able to convince someone to get treatment for an opioid addiction, but they’ll welcome life-saving naloxone. It quickly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Numerous organizations provide free naloxone kits from the University of Texas to the Austin-Travis County Health Authority. Naloxone is playing a major role in the city’s strategy to reduce overdose deaths and help people get sober.
Doing nothing is not an option if we’re serious about finding opioid epidemic solutions in Austin, TX and beyond. At Any Length men’s addiction recovery residence in Austin our team can tailor services to your specific needs. That means understanding how certain drugs impact the brain and body so that the best treatment protocols are in place