Austin, Texas – Authorities in Austin are currently investigating what has been described as “the largest opioid overdose outbreak” seen in years, with officials noting the presence of a dangerous batch of narcotics circulating in the city. The Austin Police Department (APD) and Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) reported receiving calls on Monday morning regarding a series of overdose cases concentrated in the downtown area.
As of the latest update on Tuesday afternoon, there have been four confirmed deaths linked to the outbreak, with an additional four possible deaths among the 51 suspected overdose cases reported. The number of suspected overdoses had risen to 67 by Wednesday afternoon, although no new deaths were reported. Officials have emphasized that these figures may continue to increase as more toxicology reports are processed.
Responding to the crisis, emergency personnel have utilized Narcan, a treatment for narcotic overdoses, which has generally yielded positive outcomes. The affected individuals have varied in age (ranging from their 20s to 50s) and demographics, including both housed and unhoused individuals, some of whom were at their workplace or in public spaces at the time of the overdoses.
The situation has prompted a significant surge in calls to ATCEMS, with a notable 1,000% increase in call volume on Monday compared to the typical daily average. This spike in overdoses is unprecedented since 2015 when the community faced a similar crisis with the drug K2. Authorities are actively working to identify the source of the deadly batch of narcotics responsible for the outbreak and hold those accountable for distributing them.
Two individuals have been detained thus far, resulting in an arrest for felon in possession of a firearm. However, further investigations are ongoing to determine any additional charges that may be warranted. The victims who succumbed to the overdoses have yet to be fully identified, with their ages falling within the mid-30s to mid-50s range.
In a broader context, a state dashboard has highlighted Travis County as having the highest proportion of fentanyl-related deaths per population in 2023, emphasizing the severity of the opioid crisis in the region. Despite the ongoing investigation and response efforts, the community remains on high alert as officials work tirelessly to mitigate the impact of this deadly narcotics outbreak.