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Travis County extends opioid public health crisis declaration

The first declaration was made in May of 2022, but officials say the situation has only gotten worse.

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — Travis County leaders are taking new steps to address the growing opioid crisis in the county.

On Tuesday afternoon, county commissioners extended the county's public health emergency for the second time in two years. The first declaration was made in May of 2022, but officials say the situation has only gotten worse.

The crisis declaration includes a list of directives for the county and updated overdose data.

Some in attendance voiced concerns over consistency in funding and the impact it could have on people seeking treatment.

"It is important to not only understand we have to fully resource the entire continuum, but then we have to create stable funding across that continuum because the ups and downs make it extremely hard on community organizations and hard on the individuals," said Laura Peveto, Travis County Health and Human Services division director. "They depend on a resource and then the resource loses funding and then they don't know where to go."

The declaration stays in effect until Oct. 1, 2026.

On Tuesday, commissioners also authorized using up to $100,000 to buy naloxone – the life-saving medication that stops overdoses. An additional $100,000 will go towards a new harm-reduction service.

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