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:
- Opioid overdose deaths in Texas have more than doubled since 2015
- Fentanyl - a synthetic opioid up to 100 times more potent than morphine - now drives the majority of overdose deaths
- Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl are widely circulating and often indistinguishable from legitimate medication
- No demographic is exempt: overdose deaths are rising among teenagers, middle-aged adults, and seniors
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid originally developed for severe medical pain, such as late-stage cancer. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) is now mixed into heroin, cocaine, counterfeit pills, and even fake candy - often without the user's knowledge.
A lethal dose of fentanyl can be as small as 2 milligrams - roughly the size of a few grains of salt. This is why fentanyl test strips and Naloxone are essential 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
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 a Good Samaritan law that provides legal protection when calling 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.