Williamson County Emergency Medical Services will be holding several free classes in May to educate community members about the dangers of opioids following a recent spate of fentanyl-related incidents in Travis County.
What residents need to know
Williamson County Emergency Medical Services, in collaboration with the Hutt Resource Center, will demonstrate how to administer the overdose reversal drug Narcan at Hutt Lutheran Church on May 9 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Participants will also receive Narcan to take home. Those interested should call 512-688-0176 to make a reservation.
Another educational opportunity will be held on May 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the EMS North campus located at 3189 SE Inner Loop in Georgetown. Williamson County Emergency Medical Services will teach participants to identify the symptoms of an opioid overdose and once again demonstrate administering Narcan.
If you are interested, please register here.
some context
The Williamson County Sheriff's Office issued an important warning to residents on May 2 after more than 70 fentanyl-related overdoses and eight deaths were reported in neighboring Travis County on April 30. uttered.
“The recent spike in fentanyl poisonings in Travis County serves as a stark reminder of the deadly nature of this substance. We all need to take proactive steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones. must be done,” Sheriff Mike Gleason said in a news release.
Preliminary data from the Texas Department of State Health Services shows a total of 34 fentanyl-related deaths in Williamson County in 2023, with fentanyl accounting for 45% of drug-related deaths statewide.
Texas DSHS says death data lags behind real-time data because investigations and death certificates take time to complete and submit.
In April 2023, Governor Greg Abbott announced that Narcan would be available to law enforcement agencies in every county in Texas to combat the rise in opioid-related overdoses.
The county received 1,168 doses of Narcan in 2023, which were distributed throughout the community, including schools and law enforcement, according to data from the county and the Texas Targeted Opioid Response Program.
“We need to come together as a community to confront this crisis head-on,” Cedar Park Police Chief Mike Harmon said in a statement. “Through education, awareness, and collaborative efforts, we must stop the fentanyl epidemic. “We can have a meaningful impact in the fight against this.” ”
