The City of San Antonio is taking a stand against overdoses in our city.

The San Antonio City Council passed a resolution Thursday that now declares overdoses a public health crisis.

right Centers for Disease Control and Preventionan estimated 107,543 died of drug overdoses in 2023. In Bexar County, about nine people die each week from an overdose.

Bexar County has a higher death rate than the statewide average for both stimulant and opioid-related deaths, with 58 percent of drug overdose deaths in Bexar County, according to a news release from the city.

Thursday’s resolution will focus on strengthening prevention and harm reduction programs. So far, the city has allocated nearly $1 million in opioid settlement funds to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

“Today’s resolution marks a crucial step forward in our commitment to protecting the overall health of our community,” said Dr. Claude A. Jacob, director of Metro Health. “The increasing number of overdose deaths, both nationally and locally, calls for urgent action and continued vigilance. Together, we are expanding our response to this crisis, ensuring more people have access to the care and services they need to heal and thrive.”

The City of San Antonio is set to partner with Bexar County, community organizations, health care providers and public safety agencies to respond to crises and create a safer community.

“Our local harm reduction organizations on the front lines of the opioid crisis have called on San Antonio to address this epidemic that has tragically cut too many lives short,” said District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo. “This resolution is more than words on paper – it’s a call to recognize that when we step up our efforts with the county, we can save more lives.”

The resolution is just another way the city is helping to fight overdose.

Rise Recovery unveiled San Antonio’s first Narcan dispenser earlier this month.

The Narcan machine was introduced at Rise Recovery’s Charlie Naylor Recovery Campus on the North Side.

If used within five minutes of an overdose, Narcan has an 80 percent success rate. Narcan is also available over the counter at pharmacies. Two doses cost about $45.

You can find a list of resources on our website The fight against fentanyl page.