.png)
BASTROP — International Overdose Awareness Day, observed on Aug. 31, highlights the ongoing battle against opioid overdoses in Bastrop County. In 2023, the local poison center responded to nine opioid overdose calls in the area. To help tackle overdoses in Bastrop, UTHealth Houston’s Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network has facilitated the placement of a naloxone vending machine, which provides free Narcan to the public.
The vending machine is available at Bastrop County Cares, located at 806 Water Street, as part of the network’s efforts to make life-saving drugs more accessible.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Narcan is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdoses by blocking the effects of opioids on the brain and restoring normal breathing. It is easy to administer, often in the form of a nasal spray, and can be a critical tool in preventing fatal overdoses when used promptly.
Opioid-related deaths in Texas have surged nearly 200% since 2006, prompting other organizations in Bastrop County to distribute Narcan at no cost.
“Everywhere. I think it should be accessible everywhere,” said Melissa “Missy” Noah, a withdrawal management supervisor at Bluebonnet Trails Community Services.
Since 2017, Texas has provided free Narcan to law enforcement, health providers and community organizations. Supported by $45.7 million in federal grants, the state has distributed more than 550,000 doses. Between March 2019 and August 2022, organizations in Bastrop County received nearly 1,700 doses, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Targeted Opioid Response program.
Recognizing the importance of overdose prevention in schools, the Texas Legislature recently passed a law requiring schools to stock Narcan and train staff on its administration. Bastrop ISD has already received 120 doses through the state program.
