More than 2,000 people died from fentanyl in Texas in 2022. That is more than five Texans dying from fentanyl each day. This significant public health and safety issue has escalated in recent years and as such, imparting the important message about the danger of fentanyl to all Texans has become one of the Governor’s highest priorities.  In September of 2022, Governor Abbott directed Texas state agency leadership to take action to inform Texans about this lethal substance. He stated these actions could include posting flyers in prominent locations around regulated facilities, training staff, providing educational opportunities to the people they serve, developing public service announcements, etc.

In October of 2022, Governor Abbott unveiled his statewide One Pill Kills Campaign to remind Texans that just one pill laced with fentanyl can take someone’s life. The campaign is led by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). It uses billboards, public service announcements aired on radio stations and television, and website and social media advertisements to educate Texans on how to prevent, recognize, and reverse fentanyl poisonings. In addition, life-saving Narcan will be purchased and distributed statewide to sheriff’s offices in each of the state’s 254 counties.

Learn more about Texas’ One Pill Kills Campaign (www.onepillkillstx.com)

 

In July of 2023, the newest tool in the One Pill Kills Campaign was unveiled: The Texas Fentanyl Data Dashboard. The Texas Fentanyl Dashboard, launched by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) provides information on fentanyl-involved deaths from 2014 to present that can be viewed over time, by demographics or by geography. Describing the value of the dashboard in combating the threat from fentanyl, DSHS Commissioner Dr. Jennifer Shuford explained that “Measuring a problem is an important step in understanding and improving it” and that she hopes “making this data easily accessible will allow Texas experts and leaders to continue to craft solutions to this deadly crisis.” The dashboard can be accessed at https://healthdata.dshs.texas.gov/dashboard/drugs-and-alcohol/fentanyl-trends.

 

Texas Fentanyl Data Dashboard