SAN ANTONIO — Texas families gathered at the Greenline Park Pavilion in San Antonio to talk about fentanyl on Saturday, discussing its dangers and how it took away their loved ones.
It's an ongoing effort across the state and nation as families, advocates and legislators try to do their part to combat the growing issue.
Gov. Greg Abbott, who spoke at the Soles Walking 4 Souls Fentanyl Awareness Walk, signed a law earlier this year which dedicated October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month in the state.
The newest initiative is just one step the governor said is being taken to combat fentanyl.
"I signed new laws to educate young Texans about the dangers of fentanyl," Abbott said. "I signed laws to provide life saving Narcan to colleges, law enforcement in schools across the state... I signed laws to classify fentanyl deaths as poisonings."
In Central Texas, families have also done their part to make sure the voices of their loved ones who died as a result of fentanyl poisoning is heard.
A documentary is set to be released in theatres, which will highlight the dangers of the drug, and the ripple effect is has caused parents. Other families have also advocated through billboard signs and uniting with others who have found themselves in similar situations.
Recently, Hays CISD got involved in the fight to make students and parents aware. Last month, the district partnered with the Texas High School Coaches Association to launch the Coaches vs. Overdoses program.
In 2022, more than 2,000 Texans died due to fentanyl, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services.