Federal Grant Targets Travis County Overdose Crisis

Fentanyl-related fatalities in Travis County have decreased for the first time in three years, with a 26% decrease in the first seven months of 2024 when compared to 2023. According to J. Keith Pinckard, County Chief Medical Examiner, the aggregate number of accidental drug overdose deaths decreased by 19%.

Officials credit the advancements to a community-wide emphasis on substance education, Narcan distribution, and harm reduction. AUSTIN-EMS Chief Robert Luckritz of Travis County emphasized the cumulative effect of these initiatives. "The culmination of all of these initiatives is causing a real impact," he stated.

During a news conference on Monday, County Judge Andy Brown and Congressman Lloyd Doggett disclosed a $1.6 million federal grant that will be used to enhance the substance treatment and peer support programs for inmates at Travis County Jail. By addressing the elevated overdose risk experienced by recently released inmates, the funding will improve medication-assisted treatment and post-release care planning.

Within six months of their release, inmates are eight times more likely to perish from an overdose, according to Judge Brown. Access to potent drugs post-release, in conjunction with the decrease in tolerance that occurs during incarceration, exacerbates this risk.

The news was gratefully received by the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance (THRA), responsible for educational outreach in the penitentiary. Maggie Luna, the executive director of THRA, underscored the necessity of ongoing assistance, which includes increased availability of fentanyl testing strips, improved communication, and dignity.

Additional resources were requested by Lily Hughes, the outreach director for THRA, to facilitate the reintegration of former inmates. “People are dying because they are unable to access the services they require after they are released from jail,” she stated.

Bipartisan support for the legalization of fentanyl testing strips was encouraged by Congressman Doggett as legislators prepare for the forthcoming legislative session. “This is merely the beginning,” Hughes stated, urging for a more comprehensive discourse on the prevention and recovery of addiction.

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