Austin, Texas – In a devastating wave of drug overdoses, nine people have lost their lives and nearly 80 others have experienced suspected overdoses in downtown Austin over the past week, according to the Austin Police Department. The outbreak caught the attention of law enforcement officials and non-profit organizations who swiftly responded by distributing Narcan and warning at-risk individuals about the dangerous batch of drugs circulating in the area.
Starting on Monday, the Austin Police Department and the Austin-Travis County EMS were inundated with reports of overdoses. The number of incidents gradually decreased over the following days, but the toll remained tragically high, with nine fatalities and numerous individuals suffering from overdoses.
Emergency responders were called to 36 suspected overdoses on Monday, followed by 27 on Tuesday and seven more on Wednesday. However, the distribution of Narcan, an opioid antidote, played a critical role in saving lives.
Both the EMS and the THRA worked tirelessly to distribute Narcan to the community. Around 400 doses were provided by EMS, while the THRA handed out approximately 100 doses.
Investigations into the mass overdose incident led to the detention of two individuals deemed potentially connected to the overdoses. Johnny Lee Wright, 55, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, while another person was arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. Police identified Wright and the second individual through surveillance footage, which captured Wright allegedly distributing narcotics after obtaining them from the unidentified suspect.
Authorities noted that Wright and the other person were known to officers who frequently patrol the downtown area as drug dealers.
While the community is now grappling with the aftermath of the mass overdose incident, the response from law enforcement and non-profit organizations demonstrates a commitment to mitigate harm and prevent further tragedies.