Local Leadership: How Austin and Travis County Cut Overdose Deaths Through Naloxone Distribution and Harm Reduction
In 2024, a targeted public health investment and bold local partnerships drove a powerful turnaround: opioid-related deaths in Austin and Travis County declined 22%, while fentanyl-related deaths dropped 36% results attributed in part to distributing over 24,000 naloxone doses and training more than 1,100 overdose responders across the community.
These milestones represent more than statistics they show what leadership rooted in harm reduction, collaboration, and compassion can deliver right here in Austin.
Overdose Prevention in Action: Numbers Behind the Progress
- Naloxone Distribution: Over 24,000 doses of Narcan/Naloxone have been distributed to residents, first responders, and community groups throughout 2024 across Austin and Travis County.
- Training: More than 1,100 people completed the “Breathe Now” training, empowering them to recognize overdoses and administer naloxone safely.
- Declining Overdose Rates: From 486 opioid-related deaths in 2023, the count fell to 380 in 2024. Fentanyl-related deaths likewise dropped from 279 to 179 in the same period.
- First Decline in Years: For the first time in Travis County history, a year-over-year drop in accidental drug deaths occurred a vital sign of progress in the epidemic.
Even as overdoses remain the leading cause of accidental death in the county, officials say their work has shifted from responding to crises toward building long-term prevention systems.
How Austin Came Together: Partnerships That Delivered Impact
This progress wasn’t accidental it reflected coordinated effort:
- Federal Grant Support: A $2 million federal grant coordinated by Congressman Lloyd Doggett and administered through SAMHSA enabled Austin Public Health, ATCEMS, and local partners to scale distribution and training programs.
- Community Collaboration: The Texas Harm Reduction Alliance (THRA) provided peer coaching services engaging over 100 clients, linking them to treatment or resources, and facilitating recovery steps across incarceration and homelessness transitions.
- Cross-Sector Training: The UT Austin Pharmacy Addiction Research Medicine Program (UT PhARM) trained nearly 600 healthcare providers in harm reduction and overdose prevention principles, boosting community-wide readiness.
- EMS and Paramedic Engagement: ATCEMS paratroopers and paramedics targeted overdose hotspots, distributing naloxone in ambulances and supporting follow-up outreach to people after non-fatal overdose events.
“As Mayor Kirk Watson put it: ‘We are building a system that prevents it,’” reflecting the shift toward preventive models built on community partnerships rather than crisis-response only.
At Ranch House Recovery: We Support This Work and Add Another Layer
While this city-level coordination helps keep our neighborhoods safer, at Ranch House Recovery, our mission is focused on what happens after overdose prevention. We provide structured, compassionate drug rehab in Austin built on healing, accountability, and rebuilding lives.
We see these public health efforts as vital complements to our work:
- When naloxone saves a life, we’re often ready to support the next step: recovery planning and long-term care.
- When someone is referred or enters treatment, our team offers personalized guidance, mentoring, and reintegration support.
- When communities grow stronger, our residents are part of that positive momentum restoring trust, purpose, and connection after suffering.
Our role isn’t to replace these systems but to amplify them providing real-life follow-through for people ready to change.
Stories from the Field: Voices of Hope and Service
Our team sees first-hand how prevention and treatment works in tandem:
- Jonathon Stewart, Director of ABD:
“When someone survives an overdose thanks to naloxone, the real work is just starting. We help them find purpose, routine, and community that keeps them going.” - Cody Cash, Director of Operations:
“We track who’s been reversed and who’s ready for sober living. It’s about connecting that moment of crisis to a path forward.” - Alexandra Litke, Administrative Director:
“Knowing there are community programs distributing Narcan, training more responders that gives people a realistic second chance. We give them a place to build on that chance.”
What Still Needs Attention: Funding, Access, and Sustainability
Despite the progress, there are cracks in the foundation:
- Funding Uncertainty: The federal grant that enabled rapid scaling is ending and while future opioid settlement funds may fill some gaps, consistency is not guaranteed.
- Legal Barriers: Access to fentanyl test strips remains limited under Texas law, preventing some harm reduction tools from reaching those who need them most.
- Rural and Marginalized Populations: More work is needed to ensure overdose response and referrals reach unhoused individuals and those in remote parts of the county.
City and county leaders plan to extend the public health crisis declaration through October 2026, giving time to align future resources not as an end, but as the next phase of proactive planning.
Looking Ahead: A Model for the State and Beyond
Austin and Travis County are already inspiring other communities with what’s possible when prevention, treatment, and care converge:
- They distributed naloxone in every ambulance, fire truck, and health facility.
- They trained residents and professionals to act in overdose situations.
- They leveraged peer networks to engage people who often remain invisible.
- They prioritized partnerships over silos, aligning public health, EMS, nonprofits, and academia.
From crisis to prevention, from chaos to craftsmanship this is what recovery leadership looks like.
Ending Overdose Deaths, Building Lifelong Recovery
The data is clear: when systems collaborate, invest in harm reduction, and act early, lives are saved. Naloxone works training matters and leadership changes outcomes.
At Ranch House Recovery, that leadership continues when someone is ready. Our structured house, accountability network, and peer-based support complement the life-saving work happening throughout Austin.
We are part of the continuum from emergency reversal to purposeful living supporting individuals at every step.
If you’re seeking a supportive, structured path after surviving an overdose or if you need connection and care reach out to us.
We’re ready to walk with you.
ranchhouserecovery.com/contact
