Driven by frightening statistics showing an increasing pandemic of overdose-related deaths, the City Council of San Antonio has taken a bold move by passing a resolution formally declaring drug overdoses a public health problem inside the city.
As a sobering reminder of the severity of the problem, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that in 2023, weekly overdoses killed over 2,000 people nationwide and nine in Bexar County alone. The county’s overdose mortality rate, at 58 percent, regrettably surpasses the statewide average for drug use. According to an announcement on the city’s official website, San Antonio has given the Metropolitan Health District a sizeable amount of $909,000 from the opioid settlement in an effort to strengthen public health initiatives in the city for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
This new resolution highlights the importance of expanding treatment and recovery services for individuals struggling with substance use disorders and calls for the City Council to strengthen prevention and harm reduction programs, which are crucial in lowering the number of fatal and non-fatal overdoses. Metro Health Director Dr. Claude A. Jacob said, “Today’s resolution marks a crucial step forward in our commitment to protecting the overall health of our community,” according to the city’s official website.
In order to handle emergency situations and create a more just community, San Antonio has taken a comprehensive approach that aims to create a stronger safety net through cooperation, including alliances with Bexar County, healthcare providers, community organizations, and public safety agencies. “Our local harm reduction organizations that are on the frontlines of the opioid crisis have been calling for San Antonio to tackle this epidemic that has tragically cut too many lives short,” Councilmember Teri Castillo of District 5 stated. According to the City of San Antonio, she said the resolution was more than just hyperbole and was a coordinated demand to strengthen county-level measures that would save more lives.
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