A mass overdose incident in downtown Austin has resulted in nine fatalities and nearly 80 suspected overdoses over the past week, according to local law enforcement. The Austin Police Department, along with the Austin-Travis County EMS, began responding to a surge of overdose reports starting Monday. The wave of incidents, which lasted several days, resulted in numerous overdoses and nine deaths.
In response to the crisis, law enforcement officials and non-profit organizations launched an effort to distribute Narcan, a medication used to counteract the effects of opioid overdose, and to inform at-risk residents about the dangerous batch of drugs circulating in the area. Emergency responders reported attending to 36 suspected overdoses on Monday, 27 on Tuesday, and an additional seven on Wednesday.
Christa Stedman, the public information officer for Austin-Travis County EMS, praised the distribution of Narcan during a media briefing, stating that it had undoubtedly saved lives. She noted a significant decline in overdose numbers within a few days, attributing this to the combined efforts of the community paramedic team and their partners in distributing Narcan throughout the city.
Lily Hughs, a representative of the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance (THRA), said her team of volunteers had been actively informing the community about the dangerous batch of drugs. The THRA also offered training for drug users on how to use Narcan. Hughs emphasized the importance of their outreach, stating that they ensured every person they spoke to was aware of the situation.
According to EMS, approximately 400 doses of Narcan were distributed, while the THRA reported distributing about 100 doses. In the wake of the mass overdose incident, Austin police detained two individuals of interest. One of the suspects, identified as 55-year-old Johnny Lee Wright, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The second suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance.
Investigators identified Wright and the second suspect through high-resolution camera footage, which allegedly showed Wright distributing narcotics to users after receiving them from the unidentified suspect. Both individuals were known to officers who regularly patrolled the downtown area as narcotics dealers.