The Fentanyl Crisis in the United States has shocked Americans all over the nation with the number of overdose deaths that have occurred during the past year. Fentanyl overdoses have become one of the leading causes of death between 18-45 years old. Fentanyl has been found laced in drugs such as cocaine and heroin. However, it is also found in medications like Xanax. Medications for anxiety and depression can be found online or through social media. The cartels are using Fentanyl to make more products at a cheaper cost and make more revenue.

In the state of Texas, efforts are being made to combat the rise in fentanyl-related deaths. One avenue lawmakers are becoming increasingly open to is making opioid antagonists, such as Narcan, more readily available and accessible.

Several bills filed in the Texas Legislature would aim to make Narcan more accessible in the State, especially in public education.

According to Senate Bill 629, teachers and school staff from public schools and charter schools, to institutions of higher education, would be trained to administer opioid antagonists such as Narcan. According to the Texas Tribune, South Dakota does something like this in their state. 

If a student overdosed at school, SB 629 would allow the storage and administration of opioid antagonists. The bill adds opioid antagonists to the literature that discusses the storage, maintenance, administration, and disposal of epinephrine and asthma medications. If the bill passes, an advisory committee under the Commissioner of State Health Services would advise how school districts and their employees store and administer opioid antagonists. Schools can have their own policies as well. These drugs would be held on campus and faculty and staff would be trained to use them if a student is overdosing.

Other bills have different options to make Narcan more readily available. One state legislator believes that the money Texas has received from opioid settlements should be used to fund initiatives to make Narcan more readily available, which is the goal of HB 4801.

Another bill, SB 86, would make fentanyl testing strips legal. SB 954 allows the Commissioner of the Department of State Health Services to issue a statewide standing order to prescribe Narcan to those in need.

Governor Abbott has supported making Narcan more readily available as overdose deaths from fentanyl are becoming more common. Some lawmakers are hesitant if the widespread administration of Narcan would enable rather than lower opioid use.