AUSTIN — In the past year, 1,925 Texans died from fentanyl-related poisoning – a decrease of 438 deaths from the previous year, according to preliminary state data.
The information, published this week on the Department of State Health Services’ fentanyl data dashboard, shows an 18% decline in fentanyl-related deaths from July 31, 2022, to Aug. 1, 2023.
Fentanyl poisoning deaths in Texas have risen each calendar year since 2018, nearly doubling from 891 deaths in 2020 to 1,648 in 2021. There were nearly 2,200 fentanyl poisoning deaths in 2022 and more than 2,300 deaths last year.
The data dashboard, which also includes statewide demographic trends and county and regional statistics, was announced last year as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s “One Pill Kills” campaign.
Dallas County had 141 fentanyl poisoning deaths thus far in 2024, the second-highest number behind only Harris County’s 210 deaths. Dallas County saw 282 such deaths for all of 2023, according to preliminary data, again trailing Harris County, which led the state with 515 deaths.
Abbott issued a proclamation earlier this month declaring October to be Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month. He has also collaborated with college football coaches on a “One Pill Kills” video that plays at Texas high school football games and signed several bills last year to address the fentanyl crisis, including legislation allowing murder charges for supplying fentanyl that results in death.
“Texas launched our comprehensive ‘One Pill Kills’ campaign in 2021 to raise awareness and educate Texans about the dangers of fentanyl, and we’re seeing a positive impact in the lives of Texans,” Abbott said in a statement. “Our statewide efforts have helped decrease fentanyl poisoning deaths of Texans this past year. And thanks to the people across our great state joining us in this fight and having open conversations with their loved ones about this deadly drug, we are saving lives.”
“Texas will continue to combat this nationwide crisis to protect more innocent lives from being lost to the scourge of fentanyl,” he added.
