AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced two major statewide initiatives to combat the growing national fentanyl crisis during his One Pill Kills Summit this week in Austin.
The Governor unveiled a new $10 million multimedia awareness initiative through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to educate Texans on how to prevent, recognize, and reverse fentanyl poisonings as part of the statewide “One Pill Kills” campaign. The Governor also announced the plan to distribute Naloxone to all 254 Texas counties by the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
“Thanks to President Joe Biden and his reckless open border policies, the historic levels of fentanyl flooding across our border remains the single deadliest drug threat Texas and our nation have ever seen,” said Governor Abbott. “With five Texans losing their lives every day to this clandestine killer, I launched our statewide ‘One Pill Kills’ campaign last fall to combat the growing fentanyl crisis wreaking havoc on innocent Texans and communities across our state. I thank HHSC for their hard work to raise awareness of fentanyl poisonings and prevention, as well as the Office of the Attorney General and TDEM for securing and implementing the distribution of NARCAN to every county in Texas. I am proud to be here today with so many strong voices leading the fight against the fentanyl crisis in Texas communities. Together, we will save more innocent lives from being lost to the scourge of fentanyl.”
HHSC recently partnered with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio to create a multimedia initiative to educate the public about the dangers of fentanyl and how to use NARCAN to save Texans exposed to the deadly drug.
“It is crucial we raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl to prevent poisonings in Texas,” said HHSC Executive Commissioner Young. “All Texans should understand fentanyl risks and talk with their loved ones about its dangers and the life-saving power of NARCAN. Through this $10 million multimedia operation, HHSC is helping Texas lead the fight against the fentanyl crisis plaguing our state and nation.”
The announcement of statewide distribution of NARCAN, a nasal medication that rapidly reverses opioid poisonings, comes after a settlement between opioid manufacturers and the Texas Attorney General’s Office. A portion of the settlement allocates NARCAN to the State of Texas to support communities in fighting the opioid crisis. TDEM will circulate the allotments of NARCAN and will soon begin distributing the first 20,000 units to county sheriffs’ offices across the state. Each of Texas’ 254 county sheriff’s offices will be eligible to receive a portion of this first allotment based on county population and size.
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