The Texas Department of Public Safety is stepping up its fentanyl awareness push this month through expanded outreach tied to a statewide observance.
October marks Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month under House Bill 3144, which Governor Greg Abbott signed into law in 2023. The measure designates the month for public education on fentanyl risks and the use of opioid poisoning reversal medication.
DPS reported plans to release a series of social media videos this month that highlight the dangers of the drug and point residents to the One Pill Kills campaign. Governor Abbott launched that effort in 2022 to teach Texans how to prevent, recognize, and reverse fentanyl poisonings.
“Fentanyl continues to threaten lives and families across Texas, and we cannot let the danger fade from public awareness,” said DPS Colonel Freeman F. Martin. “We have a responsibility to keep the conversation going, educate our children and communities about the risks and make sure Texans understand just how dangerous this drug can be. Every conversation, every warning and every effort to share the facts can make a difference. By working together and staying vigilant, we can help prevent more fentanyl-related tragedies and save lives.”
Martin noted that the department’s Safety Education team provides free presentations on the One Pill Kills campaign and fentanyl hazards to schools, churches, community groups and other organizations. Sessions can be adjusted for different audiences and age groups. Interested groups can contact a local team member through the department’s website.
“Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin,” DPS stated in a news release.
Illicit versions are often mixed with heroin, cocaine, or counterfeit pills. Since Operation Lone Star began in 2021, DPS has seized more than 966,083,350 lethal doses of fentanyl, more than enough to kill every man, woman, and child in America, according to DPS.
According to the Texas Workforce Commission, fentanyl deaths in the state have increased 600% over the last five years, accounting for 45% of all drug-poisoning deaths. Since 2019, 7,000 Texans have died due to fentanyl poisoning.
TWC encourages those who know someone at risk of fentanyl poisoning to carry naloxone, a medication that can reverse a fentanyl overdose and save lives. Families can keep naloxone in their medicine cabinets at home, and employers are urged to stock the medicine at worksites.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has issued guidance on how to recognize and respond to fentanyl poisoning. Some of the symptoms include:
- Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
- Falling asleep or losing consciousness
- Slow, weak, or no breathing
- Choking or gurgling sounds
- Limp body
- Cold and/or clammy skin
- Discolored skin (especially in lips and nails)
If you suspect someone has fentanyl poisoning, DFPS urges swift action:
- Call 911 immediately.
- Administer naloxone, if available.
- Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
- Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.
- Stay with the person until emergency assistance arrives.
Click here to learn how to obtain naloxone.
