The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is highlighting resources that help Texans prevent, recognize and reverse opioid overdoses as the state observes Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month in October, the agency said in an Oct. 6 news release.
Fentanyl-related deaths in Texas have declined 46% since 2023, falling from 2,307 deaths to 1,254 deaths in 2025, according to the release, which cited the Texas Department of State Health Services. The agency noted that fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that can be found in counterfeit pills and other illicit drugs without a person’s knowledge, putting people at risk of accidental poisoning and overdose.
“Fentanyl is a clandestine killer,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in the release. “One pill laced with fentanyl can take a life. That is why I launched the statewide ‘One Pill Kills’ campaign so every Texan knows the danger and knows how to save a life. Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month is the moment to talk with family and friends. Use the tools at OnePillKillsTX.com to help Texas bring this scourge to an end.”
Since its launch in 2023, the One Pill Kills campaign has garnered more than 2.7 billion impressions through social media, podcasts, digital displays, billboards and other media, according to the release. Downloadable materials and other resources about the dangers of fentanyl are available on the campaign’s webpage, the agency said.
“Fentanyl poisoning can happen quickly, and knowing how to prevent and respond to an overdose can save a life,” HHS Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth said. “Increasing awareness of overdose reversal medications and other resources is an important step toward reducing overdose deaths across Texas.”
The release pointed to several HHSC programs. Texas Targeted Opioid Response provides access to prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services, and it addresses opioid and stimulant use disorders by increasing access to overdose reversal medications and reducing overdose deaths through evidence-based programming, the agency said. Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral programs can be a starting point for people seeking substance use disorder treatment who are unsure where to begin, and Texans may qualify for services based on need.
HHSC also contracts with The University of Texas at San Antonio to manage Naloxone Texas, a statewide initiative that provides access to naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses. In fiscal year 2026, the program distributed more than 222,000 units of naloxone, according to the release.