AUSTIN, Texas — Texas is getting millions to help its fight against fentanyl.
That money will come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of a grant.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), nearly $4 million will help the state analyze the causes and effects of drug poisonings. The department plans to use that information to create strategies to prevent drug use and poisonings.
Texas health officials say that about $1.6 million of the grant will focus on data while the rest will go to developing preventative strategies.
“It’s important to understand the realities that individuals with substance use disorder face and what communities need to support them,” said Michelle Alletto, chief program and services officer for HHSC. “Our mission is to save lives and continue to find data-informed approaches to prevent, reduce, and eliminate substance use and misuse.”
According to DSHS, more than 4,900 Texans died from drug poisonings in 2022, with nearly half of those related to fentanyl. DSHS says fentanyl-related deaths increased by 600% between 2019 to 2022.