Authorities in Texas are looking into a possible “outbreak” of opioid overdoses in Austin, following many calls for help between Monday and Wednesday that may have resulted in the deaths of nine individuals.
Austin: According to EMS Division Chief Angela Carr, during a press conference on Wednesday, Travis County Emergency Medical Services responded to 75 overdose instances in total between Monday and Wednesday night.
According to county spokeswoman Hector Nieto, the Travis County medical examiner’s office said it is looking at nine cases as possible overdose deaths.
According to Nieto’s statement to the American-Statesman, a publication of the USA TODAY Network, preliminary toxicology findings revealed the presence of methamphetamine in three cases, cocaine in eight, and fentanyl in nine.
When they first got together on Tuesday, city authorities wanted to provide updates on the investigation into the alleged overdoses.
Assistant Chief Steve White of Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services reported that by Tuesday morning, emergency responders had received over 50 calls related to overdoses, an approximately 1,000% increase in overdose emergency calls in a single day.
This was part of what officials referred to as the city’s deadliest overdose outbreak in nearly a decade.
At a press conference on Tuesday, White stated that Austin had not seen such a high number of overdoses since the city was rocked by synthetic cannabinoid K2 in 2015. White states that one or two overdose calls are usually received by Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services each day.
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Over 106,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses in 2021, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s most recent figures. In 2021, there were 70,601 overdose deaths utilizing synthetic opioids, not including methadone.
“Over the past two decades, the United States has experienced a growing crisis of substance abuse and addiction that is illustrated most starkly by the rise in deaths from drug overdoses,” the State Health Access Data Assistance Center stated. “Since 2000, the annual number of overdose deaths from any kind of drug in the U.S. has multiplied nearly six times over, rising from 17,500 to over 106,000 people in 2021.”
Two people of interest are identified by Austin police
Citing a desire to maintain the investigation’s integrity, the Austin Police Department stated it has identified two people of interest but declined to offer any further updates.
Lt. Patrick Eastlick of the Austin police department stated on Tuesday that the two people had been taken into custody in downtown Austin on Monday, with one of them being charged with a crime related to handgun possession. More charges, he claimed, were still pending.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Office are supporting the police investigation.
According to Eastlick’s prior statement, those found guilty of fentanyl distribution may also be charged with murder or the manufacturing or delivery of a restricted substance that results in death or serious bodily harm.
To address the epidemic, a new Texas legislation established tiers of felony charges for manufacturing, transporting, or dispensing fentanyl. The statute permits guilty parties to be charged with murder, with a maximum punishment of life in prison.
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement in conjunction with Texas Against Fentanyl advising locals “to remain vigilant and aware of the dangers posed by fentanyl.”
Residents were asked in the statement, “to engage in open and honest conversations with family members, particularly teenagers, about the risks associated with fentanyl and other dangerous drugs. Heightened awareness and education are critical in preventing further harm and loss of life.”
Moreover, The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency reported that more than 17.9 million fentanyl pills have been seized already in 2024. In 2023, the agency seized more than 78.4 million fentanyl-laced pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder, which represent more than 376.7 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
