In the weeks leading up to Halloween, public officials and nonprofits will be raising awareness of one of the most pressing issues facing Texans: the deadly fentanyl crisis.
Building on last year’s #OnePillKills initiative, Gov. Greg Abbott and other lawmakers are aiming to bring attention to the dangers of misusing opioids through a series of outreach campaigns over the course of the month, declaring October “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month.”
Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl are sufficient to deliver a lethal dose, and an estimated five Texans die each day from the potent synthetic opioid.
The spread of the powerful drug has been a grave concern nationwide, sparking initiatives on the federal level, such as U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-TX) attempt to see fentanyl test strips decriminalized across the country. Such an effort would allow individuals to determine whether a drug is laced with fentanyl, but they are currently illegal in some states, including Texas, as previously covered by The Dallas Express.
Many people who overdose on fentanyl typically do not realize they have consumed the substance as it is often mixed in with other illicit drugs or sham prescription pills. Such was the case for the four individuals killed by fentanyl poisoning highlighted by the #OnePillKills campaign.
For instance, 19-year-old Cameron Stewart died two years ago after purchasing what he thought was anti-anxiety medication from a drug dealer on social media.
Tucker Turner, 19, took what he thought was Percocet to help him sleep. He died just days before he was to compete in a triathlon in 2021.
Danica Kaprosy died shortly after her 17th birthday. She never woke up after taking a pill laced with fentanyl one night in 2022.
Ryan Bagwell, 19, was killed after ingesting what he believed was Percocet, which he had purchased on a trip to Mexico with a friend.
Authorities are urging the public to educate themselves on how to identify an opioid overdose and how to respond to one.
Naloxone, a drug capable of reversing the effects of opioids, can be acquired without a prescription from a pharmacy. Also referred to as Narcan, the medication can be lifesaving in the event of an overdose.
While the Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month campaign may help raise awareness, some experts claim that more needs to be done to address the mental health issues that might undergird the crisis, especially when it comes to minors seeking medications for perceived mental health disorders.
“Kids have to understand why they are buying pills in the first place,” explained Kathleen Hassenfratz, a licensed professional counselor, according to The Texas Tribune. “… It has become kind of cool to be able to say you have something even though they haven’t been clinically diagnosed. … [We] need to teach the students the difference because a lot of kids are just self-diagnosing. “