Authorities in Austin, Texas, are currently investigating a concerning "outbreak" of fatal drug overdoses that have been rapidly spreading throughout the city.
The Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ATCEMS) and the Austin Police Department (APD) reported receiving a total of 51 calls related to suspected overdoses as of Tuesday afternoon, with four suspected deaths linked to this surge, as per local ABC News affiliate. APD mentioned that the patients affected by overdoses ranged in age from their 20s to 50s, encompassing various racial and ethnic backgrounds, according to KVUE. While the identities of the deceased individuals have not been disclosed, their ages ranged from the mid-30s to mid-50s.
The spike in calls began at approximately 9:00 a.m. CT on Monday and was initially concentrated in the downtown area, as explained by Angela Carr, the EMS division chief at ATCEMS, during a press conference on Monday evening. Subsequently, calls began pouring in from all over the city, including residential areas, commercial establishments, and public areas accessible to all.
Carr mentioned that a specialized team was swiftly dispatched to the affected areas, with Narcan rescue kits being distributed. Narcan, administered as a nasal spray and containing the active ingredient naloxone, can rapidly restore breathing in individuals experiencing an opioid overdose. Normally, ATCEMS receives two or three overdose calls daily, but the volume of calls on Monday marked a staggering 1,000% increase in call volume, as stated by Dr. Heidi Abraham, the deputy medical director for ATCEMS.
"The trend that we're observing in this series of overdoses is exceptionally lethal," she remarked during the press conference. "We haven't witnessed overdoses of this magnitude in several years." Abraham indicated that the overdose patients had reported using various types of drugs, although she did not specify the drugs involved.
Christa Steadman, the public information officer for ATCEMS, noted that authorities suspect the "outbreak" may be due to "a new batch in town," likely originating from the same source or a couple of sources, given the similarities in symptoms among patients.
Officials have pledged to provide regular updates as more information becomes available.
This situation unfolds against the backdrop of a record number of Americans succumbing to drug overdoses. In 2022, nearly 108,000 drug overdose deaths were recorded, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marking a roughly 1% increase from the nearly 107,000 overdose deaths in 2021. Travis County ranked fifth in the number of provisional drug overdose deaths in 2022, with 308 deaths, predominantly among white residents. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, may be a contributing factor to the rise in overdoses and overdose deaths. Preliminary data from the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) indicated that Travis County recorded 188 fentanyl poisoning-related deaths, the second-highest number after Harris County, where Houston is situated.