Fentanyl-related deaths in Texas declined 46 percent since 2023, falling from 2,307 deaths to 1,254 deaths in 2025, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that can be found in counterfeit pills and other illicit drugs without a person's knowledge, according to the agency.
The decline comes as the state has promoted awareness of fentanyl risks through the "One Pill Kills" campaign, launched in 2023. The campaign has reached more than 2.7 billion people through social media, podcasts, digital displays and billboards, the agency said.
Texas Targeted Opioid Response, a state program, addresses opioid and stimulant use disorders by increasing access to naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, and offering prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services. The state distributed over 222,000 units of naloxone in fiscal year 2026, according to HHSC.
HHSC also contracts with the University of Texas at San Antonio to operate Naloxone Texas, a statewide initiative providing access to overdose reversal medication. Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral programs help connect people seeking substance use disorder treatment with services for which they may qualify based on need.