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With an 80% increase in synthetic opioid-related deaths reported in Texas in 2021 compared to 2020, the deadly fentanyl crisis is endangering Texans of all ages. The Texas Workforce Commission, in collaboration with the Office of the Governor and other Texas state agencies, is committed to raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl. Our goal is to develop and share resources with our customers to help end the opioid crisis and fight fentanyl use in the Lone Star State.
Resources to Support Texas' Fight Against Fentanyl
Form to request a standing order to distribute naloxone
Learn more about and request access to the standing order for naloxone.
Fentanyl FAQs
Learn more about the dangers of fentanyl.
Texas' targeted opioid response
Learn how Texans are fighting the opioid crisis.
Naloxone Finder and Related Resources
Learn how to respond to an opioid overdose.
- One in four Texans have experienced an opioid overdose or know someone who has.
- Fentanyl is an opioid 50 times stronger than heroin and may be mixed with other substances and counterfeit (fake) pills. Even in small doses, as few as two milligrams, fentanyl can cause a life-threatening overdose or be lethal.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published provisional data from 2021 that shows about 66 percent of opioid-related deaths in Texas involve synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl and fentanyl analogs (Ahmad et al., 2022).
- Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids, including fentanyl. If you or someone you know is at risk for opioid overdose, carry naloxone and keep it at home.
- Provisional data from the Texas Department of State
Health Services indicate there were an estimated 2,506 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2021. - The average number of deaths per month has risen from 114 in 2019 to 209 deaths per month in 2021.
- Since 2017, opioids have been involved in about 52 percent of all unintentional overdose deaths.
- Of all opioid overdose deaths among those aged 0-17 in 2020, 92 percent involved a synthetic opioid such as fentanyl.
- The top five counties with the most opioid-related overdose deaths in 2020 were: Harris (489), Dallas (217), Tarrant (165), Bexar (125), and Travis (109).
- In 2020, Opioid use in Texas stood at 7.2 percent while nationally usage was lower at 5.6 percent.
- Of the 469 fatal work injury deaths in Texas for 2020, 2.8 percent were from unintentional overdose from nonmedical drugs or alcohol.
