Texas DPS Highlights Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month

AUSTIN, TX — The Texas Department of Public Safety is increasing its One Pill Kills public awareness efforts throughout October as part of Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month.

House Bill 3144, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2024, designated October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month in Texas. The statewide initiative is intended to increase public awareness and education about the dangers of fentanyl and the use of opioid poisoning reversal medication.

“Fentanyl continues to threaten lives and families across Texas, and we cannot let the danger fade from public awareness,” DPS Col. Freeman F. Martin said. “We have a responsibility to keep the conversation going, educate our children and communities about the risks and make sure Texans understand just how dangerous this drug can be. Every conversation, every warning and every effort to share the facts can make a difference. By working together and staying vigilant, we can help prevent more fentanyl-related tragedies and save lives.”

Throughout October, DPS plans to release a series of social media videos aimed at educating Texans about fentanyl and directing them to resources available through the One Pill Kills campaign.

Abbott launched One Pill Kills in 2022 to educate Texans about how to prevent, recognize and reverse fentanyl poisonings.

DPS is also reminding Texans about its Safety Education team, which provides specialized programming to schools, churches, community groups and other organizations seeking information about the One Pill Kills campaign and the dangers of fentanyl.

The presentations can be tailored for different audiences and age groups and are available free of charge. Organizations interested in a presentation can contact a DPS Safety Education team member in their area.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin, according to DPS. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl has become widespread and is often mixed with other drugs, including heroin and cocaine, or used in counterfeit prescription pills.

DPS reported that since the launch of Operation Lone Star in 2021, the agency has seized 966,083,350 lethal doses of fentanyl. DPS said that amount is more than enough to kill every man, woman and child in America.