State data shows number of fatal fentanyl-related poisonings in East Texas from 2020-22
The East Texas county with the most fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2022 was Smith County, which recorded 11.
Newly released data is highlighting the increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths in the Lone Star State.
WHAT IS FENTANYL?
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), fentanyl is a "synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine."
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF). Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed by doctors or used in a hospital setting to treat severe pain. The CDC says IMF is responsible for most recent cases of fentanyl-related overdose deaths.
"Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is available on the drug market in different forms, including liquid and powder," the CDC said. "Powdered fentanyl looks just like many other drugs. It is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine and made into pills that are made to resemble other prescription opioids. Fentanyl-laced drugs are extremely dangerous, and many people may be unaware that their drugs are laced with fentanyl. In its liquid form, IMF can be found in nasal sprays, eye drops, and dropped onto paper or small candies."
Street names for IMF include:
- Apache
- Dance Fever
- Friend
- Goodfellas
- Jackpot
- Murder 8
- Tango and Cash
The CDC says more than 150 people die every day from overdoses related to drugs like fentanyl.
FATAL FENTANYL-RELATED OVERDOSE POISONINGS
The DSHS reports fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Texas increased from 2020-22.
In 2020, 883 deaths were reported. Preliminary data shows in 2021, that number rose to 1,672 (89% increase). As of Mar. 8, 2023, provisional data shows another increase in 2022.
The East Texas county with the most fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2022 is Smith County, which recorded 11.
CBS19 has broken down the total number of fentanyl overdose deaths that occurred in East Texas counties from 2020-2022:
- Anderson County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - Between 1-9; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Angelina County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - Between 1-9; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Camp County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - 0; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Cass County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - 0; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Cherokee County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - Between 1-9; 2022 - 0
- Gregg County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - 0; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Harrison County: 2020 - Between 1-9; 2021 - Between 1-9; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Henderson County: 2020 - Between 1-9; 2021 - Between 1-9; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Hopkins County: 2020 - Between 1-9; 2021 - Between 1-9; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Houston County: 2020 - Between 1-9; 2021 - 0; 2022 - 0
- Marion County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - Between 1-9; 2022 - 0
- Morris County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - 0; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Nacogdoches County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - 0; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Polk County: 2020 - Between 1-9; 2021 - Between 1-9; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Rusk County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - Between 1-9; 2022 - Between 1-9
- San Augustine County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - 0; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Smith County: 2020 - Between 1-9; 2021 - Between 1-9; 2022 - 11
- Upshur County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - 0; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Van Zandt County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - Between 1-9; 2022 - Between 1-9
- Wood County: 2020 - 0; 2021 - Between 1-9; 2022 - 0
NOTE: These statistics are related to deaths that occurred in these respective counties. The individuals who died may not have resided in said counties. Counts of 1-9 are suppressed by the DSHS to prevent the identification of individuals in confidential data. Death data for 2021-22 are not final. They are tabulated based on data that are not yet finalized and may be incomplete. Provided data are subject to change before 2021 and 2022 data are finalized.
SIGNS OF AN OVERDOSE
According to the DSHS, the following are potential signs of an overdose:
- Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
- Face is extremely pale and/or feels cold or clammy to the touch
- Body goes limp
- Fingernails or lips have a purple or blue color
- Vomiting or making gurgling noises
- Cannot be awakened or unable to speak
- Breathing or heartbeat slows or stops
It's important to have an treatment available if you suspect a friend or loved one is at risk of an overdose. One of those lifesaving drugs is Naloxone (Narcan), which can reverse an overdose from opioids — including fentanyl.
"Keeping it on hand could mean the difference between life and death," the DSHS said. "Naloxone is available at many pharmacies in Texas without a prescription."
FENTANYL IN EAST TEXAS
On Friday, Feb. 17, the Smith County Sheriff's Office arrested a man with a vast amount of fentanyl.
Around 7:05 p.m., deputies performed a traffic stop on a van with Mexico plates on Interstate 20, near the Barber Rd. exit in Smith County.
"The van was pulling a trailer loaded with several motorcycles, and the vehicle and was towing another car," the SCSO said. "The van was observed to change lanes back in forth without signaling a lane change. At that time the vehicle was stopped for these traffic violations."
Officials said Erik Marin Islas Angeles, of Mexico, allowed law enforcement to search his vehicle. Officials found a car-sized battery inside the van in a DeWalt Job Box, which was not a normal weight for a car battery, and it appeared to have been hollowed out. Angeles also reportedly had three cell phones which kept ringing during the traffic stop.
The SCSO says located within the hollowed out batter was a large package with containing about 42,000 fentanyl pills weighing about 9 lbs. Angeles was arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail on a $2 million bond.
In July 2022, officers with the Texarkana Texas Police Department received information a man was reportedly selling pills laced with fentanyl from a house in the 500 block of Bowie St. Upon learning it was true, police obtained a search warrant for the property and found approximately 300 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and two pounds of marijuana. Deneeko Shavers, 31, was taken into custody and charged with possession of a controlled substance.
However, police say the investigation didn't end there.
Officials say they later determined Shavers had ties to a Mexican drug cartel that was supplying him with the fentanyl-laced pills.
"We also found evidence that showed that he was having thousands of pills shipped to him from Mexico," police said.
Shavers pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
GOV. ABBOTT'S RESPONSE
During Gov. Greg Abbott's State of the State address, he identified the fentanyl crisis as one of seven "emergency items" he wanted to focus on for the 88th legislative session.
Gov. Abbott says he will work with the Texas Legislature to:
- Classify fentanyl “overdoses” as poisonings
- Prosecute an individual for murder if they distribute fentanyl or drugs laced with fentanyl that kill someone
- Increase the supply of lifesaving NARCAN and make it more readily available to Texans exposed to fentanyl across the state
If you live in East Texas and are needing help with substance abuse, you can find resources here.