The opioid crisis is not an abstract national statistic. It is happening in our neighborhoods, our workplaces, and our families across Dallas-Fort Worth.
The Local Picture
Texas has not been spared from the opioid epidemic. Key facts:
- Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, according to the CDC
- Drugs may contain deadly levels of fentanyl without any way to see, taste or smell it (CDC)
- That is why carrying naloxone and knowing the signs of an overdose matters for anyone who lives near someone at risk
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid originally developed for severe medical pain, such as late-stage cancer. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) can be mixed into other drugs and counterfeit pills, often without the user's knowledge.
Because fentanyl is deadly even in small doses, fentanyl test strips and naloxone are widely used harm reduction tools.
What Is Being Done
Community organizations, hospitals, and first responders across Dallas County are working to:
- Expand Naloxone (Narcan) distribution
- Increase access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- Fund recovery housing and wraparound services
- Deploy fentanyl test strips in high-risk areas
Fort Worth and Tarrant County
The opioid crisis does not stop at the Dallas County line. Fort Worth and the rest of Tarrant County face the same fentanyl-driven risks - and have their own local system of care. If you live west of Dallas, these are the places to start.
- My Health My Resources (MHMR) of Tarrant County - the local mental health authority for Tarrant County. Its crisis line takes calls and texts 24/7 at 800-866-2465. MHMR also runs a Mobile Crisis Outreach Team that provides face-to-face, 24-hour crisis services, and offers substance use (addiction) services. For non-crisis questions about services, call 817-335-3022. (Source: mhmrtarrant.org/crisis-services)
- Naloxone - Narcan and generic naloxone nasal spray are available over the counter at Texas pharmacies, including across Fort Worth. Our free naloxone guide helps you decide whether to carry it and where to get it, and our naloxone primer for DFW residents walks through how to use it step by step.
- Treatment referrals - the free, confidential SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) can point Tarrant County callers to local treatment, including medication-assisted treatment.
If someone is not breathing or will not wake up, call 911 first - then give naloxone if you have it. For every hotline across Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, and Denton counties in one place, see our Dallas and DFW crisis hotlines page.
What You Can Do
- Learn to recognize an opioid overdose: slow or stopped breathing, blue lips, unresponsive
- Carry Naloxone - it is available without a prescription at most Texas pharmacies
- Call 911 immediately - Texas has an Overdose Bystander Law that may provide a defense to certain minor possession charges when you call for overdose help
The opioid crisis is a public health emergency. Every person who survives an overdose has the potential for recovery. The tools exist - we need the community to use them.
If you or someone you love is in a substance use crisis right now and you're not sure who to call, our free crisis resource quiz routes you to the right hotline in one question.