San Antonio to receive funding to fight opioid crisis, Narcan distribution being considered
Published: Mon, 07/17/23
San Antonio to receive funding to fight opioid crisis, Narcan distribution being considered
San Antonio to receive funding to fight opioid crisis, Narcan distribution being considered
News4SA
by Stephanie Esquivel
The Texas Department of State Health Services has launched a fentanyl data dashboard where people can access information, including fentanyl-related deaths by region. The dashboard also shows fentanyl data trends since 2018.
The city of San Antonio will be receiving money over the next 18 years to fight the opioid crisis. Fentanyl can be considered part of that crisis since it is a strong opioid.
“The city of San Antonio is going to be receiving $4.4 million over the course of 18 years to address this crisis that we're seeing playing out in our communities,” said Teri Castillo, San Antonio Councilwoman for District 5.
Castillo said city officials are starting to build a plan on how that money will be spent. One option being considered by the city council is using some of that funding to provide Narcan for nonprofit organizations who work in the community.
“Narcan or Naloxone can reverse an overdose that is occurring due to fentanyl ingestion,” said Dr. Lisa Cleveland who works for UT Health.
Dr. Cleveland said the use of Narcan has already saved countless lives in San Antonio and surrounding areas.
“What that medication does is it can actually reverse the effects of opioids and the most I think important effect is that of respiratory depression, which is what leads to overdose death,” said Dr. Cleveland.
Harper’s Chapel Ministries Pastor Vincent Robinson said he has seen this firsthand.
“I get a scream and a yell ‘pastor come outside!’ Right on the corner of Zarzamora, there’s one of the homeless clients that I know dearly, was overdosing and even though we have a fire department on the street, we keep Narcan just for that here as well,” recounts Robinson.
Robinson said if the city was able to use some of that funding to provide Narcan for his church, he would be able to continue helping the community.
“A lot of our homeless clients come here on Sundays for worship and sometimes they come in high, or they might be on the verge of overdosing, so we want to make sure we are always prepared,” said Robinson.
Robinson said he can recall at least 11 times in the past year, where his ministry has been able to provide Narcan to people in need.