“Simply put, fentanyl is a clandestine killer, and Texans are falling victim to the cartels that are producing it.” – Governor Greg Abbott
RAISING AWARENESS TO SAVE THE LIVES OF TEXANS
Fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid that is impacting communities across Texas and endangering Texans of all ages. Fentanyl-related deaths reported in Texas increased 158% from 2020 to 2023, and the time to combat the infiltration of this drug into our state is now.
Under the direction of Governor Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is working to raise awareness about the dangers of this drug to save the lives of Texans. Often, people don’t even know that they’re taking this deadly drug. This web page will serve as a resource to help spread the message about the dangers of fentanyl.
Mexican drug cartels are mass-producing and trafficking counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl into Texas. The reality is that many of these fake pills look so real that it’s hard to tell the difference between fake and real prescription pills. So much so that even experts have a hard time telling the difference. Don’t fall victim to the deadly dangers of fentanyl.
To combat the rise in fentanyl across Texas, DPS continues to combat the smuggling of this deadly drug into our state, particularly as part of Operation Lone Star. Since Operation Lone Star began in March 2021, Texas law enforcement has seized more than 622 million* lethal doses of fentanyl across the state. This is enough fentanyl to kill every man, woman and child in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
DANGERS OF FENTANYL
Fentanyl is often pressed into fake pills or cut into street drugs, such as methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine — often without the user knowing it — and the outcome can be deadly. In fact, most people who die from fentanyl didn’t know that they were even taking this deadly drug. One of the challenges in combating this crisis is the fact that these “fake” pills are everywhere. They are widely available. They aren’t hard to purchase.
In this video, you'll hear the story of the late Ryan Bagwell, a victim of fentanyl poisoning, from his mother, Sandra Bagwell. She shares his story in the hopes of helping protect others from the dangers of fentanyl.
Fentanyl dangers are impacting Texans of all ages. Fentanyl is 50–100 times more potent than morphine — just 2 milligrams could be lethal. According to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lab tests, “four out of every ten fake pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose.” The impacts of fentanyl are devastating — and deadly.
Texas’ “One Pill Kills” Multimedia Campaign Garners Over 1.5 Billion Impressions
(October 2024) Governor Greg Abbott announced that Texas' "One Pill Kills" multimedia awareness campaign garnered over 1.5 billion impressions since September 2023—nearly double the projected amount—through advertising on social media, podcasts, digital displays, billboards, and other media. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will continue this successful campaign through August 2025.
"Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug crisis our state—and our nation—has ever encountered," said Governor Abbott. “As part of our ‘One Pill Kills’ campaign, I announced last year a statewide multimedia initiative to educate Texans on the dangers of fentanyl and raise awareness to help save lives. Through HHSC's ongoing efforts, we have been able to reach millions of Texans through social media, billboards, TV and radio, and other media to remind people that just one pill laced with fentanyl can take a life. Texas will continue this initiative throughout next year to ensure more Texans aren’t ripped away from their families. Working together, we will protect more innocent lives from being lost to the scourge of fentanyl.”
OCTOBER: FENTANYL POISONING AWARENESS MONTH
House Bill 3144 established October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month to help increase awareness of the dangers of fentanyl. DPS is joining Governor Abbott throughout the month of October to bring attention to the dangers of fentanyl and educate all Texans about the fentanyl epidemic.
“Fentanyl is a clandestine killer that rips away loved ones forever," said Governor Abbott. "Texas continues to take significant action to combat the growing fentanyl crisis that is plaguing our state and our nation. Last year, I signed a law designating October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month in Texas to ensure all Texans, particularly our children, know about the dangers of deadly fentanyl. As part of Texas’ ongoing ‘One Pill Kills’ campaign, we are raising awareness about the deadly consequences of fentanyl and educating Texans on how to prevent, recognize, and reverse fentanyl poisonings to protect a family member, friend, and neighbor. Working together, we can fight back to save countless lives from this deadly threat."
From Governor Abbott's Proclamation:
"Mexican drug cartels strategically manufacture and distribute the drug disguised as painkillers, stimulants, anti-anxiety drugs, and even candy. Victims of fentanyl poisoning are unaware that an alleged prescription pill or other substance they bought online or received at a party is laced with the deadly drug.
"...In 2021, I launched our historic border security mission, Operation Lone Star, to secure the southern border and stem the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl pouring into our state and our nation. Since then, Texas has seized over 544 million deadly doses of fentanyl—enough to kill every man, woman, and child in the United States and Mexico combined. But more work remains to be done to save innocent lives.
"...During the 88th Texas Legislature, I signed several key laws to fight back against the growing national fentanyl crisis, including House Bill 3144, which establishes October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month in Texas. It is critical that every Texan is aware of the fentanyl crisis plaguing our state and nation. Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month is a statewide effort to protect our friends, our family members, and our loved ones from this clandestine killer.
"One pill kills, but if we work together, we can bring about a better, brighter future in which no Texan loses a loved one to fentanyl poisoning."
Governor Abbott, Texas College Football Coaches To Young Texans: One Pill Kills (October 4, 2024)
Governor Greg Abbott unveiled a new One Pill Kills video that will play at high school football games across the state tonight during Friday Night Lights for Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month.
The Governor alongside Texas Tech University Head Football Coach Joey McGuire, Texas A&M University Head Football Coach Mike Elko, University of Texas Head Football Coach Steve Sarkisian and University of Houston Head Football Coach Willie Fritz came together in a new video to raise awareness and educate young Texans about the deadly consequences of fentanyl. As part of Texas' comprehensive "One Pill Kills" campaign, the fentanyl awareness video will be played at Friday night high school football games across Texas during the month of October.
DPS Bolsters One Pill Kills Campaign During Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month | October 2024
AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety is increasing its One Pill Kills public awareness efforts as part of Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month. Signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott last year, House Bill 3144 established the month of October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month—a statewide effort to bring awareness and education to the public about the dangers of fentanyl and the life-saving power of opioid poisoning reversal medication.
“Fentanyl is a clandestine killer, and it is now more important than ever that we talk to our families, children, friends and loved ones about just how prevalent it is in communities across Texas,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “This month, and really every month, we must do everything we can to get the word out about this deadly drug in order to save lives.”
Read more about DPS' efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl as part of Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month.
MAY 7: NATIONAL FENTANYL AWARENESS DAY
May 7 is National Fentanyl Awareness Day, and DPS is calling on all Texans to do their part to spread the word about the dangers of fentanyl.
What can you do? Learn the facts about fentanyl and start sharing your knowledge with loved ones. Raising awareness about this crisis is vital to helping protect lives. Many people don’t know about the dangers of fentanyl ― and the outcome can be deadly.
Knowledge is power, and we need your help spread the word about the fentanyl crisis.
REQUEST a One Pill Kills PRESENTATION
Are you interested in scheduling a One Pill Kills fentanyl awareness presentation? Through the Texas Highway Patrol’s Safety Education Service, DPS offers specialized programing to schools, churches, community groups and other organizations — including a presentation tailored to raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and helping keep Texans safe.
The One Pill Kills presentation can be tailored for a variety of audiences and age groups, and it is available free of charge. Click here to learn more and connect with a safety education representative in your area.
GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S INITIATIVE
In September 2022, Governor Abbott ordered state agencies to raise awareness and launch coordinated efforts to inform and educate the public on the dangers of fentanyl, its lethality and prevalence across Texas. Below are actions recently taken by Governor Abbott in the fight against fentanyl.
- 1/17/2024: Texas Seizes Enough Fentanyl To Kill Everyone In U.S., Mexico, Canada
- 10/23/2024: Governor Abbott Highlights Fentanyl Poisoning Deaths Decrease In Texas
- 10/14/2024: Governor Abbott Recognizes Fentanyl Victims, Raises Awareness In San Antonio
- 10/10/2024: Texas’ “One Pill Kills” Multimedia Campaign Garners Over 1.5 Billion Impressions
- 10/4/2024: Governor Abbott, Texas College Football Coaches Unveil New One Pill Kills Video
- 10/1/2024: Governor Abbott Raises Awareness For Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month
- 6/21/2024: Texas Seizes Over Half A Billion Lethal Doses Of Fentanyl
- 10/3/2023: Governor Abbott Proclamation: Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month
- 9/6/2023: Governor Abbott Expands Life-Saving NARCAN To All Texas Law Enforcement
- 7/13/2023: Governor Abbott Unveils Texas Fentanyl Data Dashboard
- 6/14/2023: Governor Abbott Signs Pivotal Measures To Combat Fentanyl Crisis
- 4/27/2023: Governor Abbott Announces Seizure Of Over Half A Million Lethal Doses Of Fentanyl In Austin
- 4/14/2023: Operation Lone Star Ramps Up Historic Offensive Against Fentanyl Crisis
- 4/12/2023: Governor Abbott Announces Record Seizure Of Deadly Fentanyl In Mission
- 4/6/2023: Governor Abbott Announces Statewide Initiatives To Fight Fentanyl Crisis
- 12/02/2022: Texas Leads Fight Against Growing National Fentanyl Crisis
- 10/21/2022: Operation Lone Star Combats Growing National Fentanyl Crisis
- 9/23/2022: Operation Lone Star Increasing Efforts To Combat Growing Fentanyl Crisis
- 9/20/2022: Governor Abbott Directs State Agencies To Ramp Up Anti-Fentanyl Efforts
- 8/28/2022: Governor Abbott Announces New Initiatives To Combat Opioid Crisis At Montgomery County 2022 Overdose Awareness Event
- 7/15/2022: Operation Lone Star Fights Deadly Fentanyl Crisis Coming Across Border
- 7/14/2022: Governor Abbott Highlights Texas’ Efforts To Stop Growing Fentanyl Crisis
- 7/1/2022: Operation Lone Star Seizing Record Amounts Of Fentanyl, DPS Crime Lab Finds Fentanyl In Most Street Drugs
SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT
As part of our fentanyl awareness public relations campaign, DPS is providing the following materials for use to promote the dangers of fentanyl.
- Download and share our series of posters about the dangers of fentanyl.
- Social Media Graphics: Download and share across your social media platforms.
ONE PILL KILLS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSA)
Along with its other One Pill Kills awareness efforts, public service announcements highlighting the dangers of fentanyl air in the waiting areas of more than 180 driver license offices across the state. These PSAs are part of DPS' statewide effort to bring awareness and education to the public about the dangers of fentanyl.
One Pill Kills: Dangers of Fentanyl (PSA)
Synthetic opioid-related deaths in Texas went up 158 percent from 2020 to 2023.
One Pill Kills: Don't Fall Victim to This Deadly Drug (PSA)
In one year, the Texas Department of Public Safety seized enough fentanyl to kill every single American.
One Pill Kills: Real vs. Fake Pills (PSA)
Mexican drug cartels are mass-producing and trafficking counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl into Texas. The reality is that many of these fake pills look so real that it’s hard to tell the difference between fake and real prescription pills. So much so that even experts have a hard time telling the difference.
One Pill Kills: Fentanyl is Everywhere (PSA)
Fentanyl dangers are impacting Texans of all ages. Fentanyl is 50–100 times more potent than morphine — just 2 milligrams could be lethal.
FENTANYL: IN THE NEWS
- DPS | Northwest Texas Region: DPS Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Seizure in Carson County
CARSON COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) seized more than 16 pounds of suspected cocaine and nearly two pounds of suspected fentanyl after a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper stopped a vehicle in Carson County.
On Friday, September 6, at 5:12 p.m., a DPS Trooper stopped a 2025 Chevrolet Malibu traveling east on I-40 near Conway for a traffic violation. During the stop, the Trooper discovered multiple plastic-wrapped blocks of cocaine and one plastic-wrapped bag of fentanyl in the vehicle.
DPS Special Agents and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agents were contacted and assisted with the investigation.
The driver, Stephane Davis, 40, of Roanoke, Va., was arrested and booked into the Carson County Jail for felony possession of a controlled substance.
The drugs were reportedly being transported from Corona, Calif., to Roanoke, Va.
- DPS | Northwest Texas Region: DPS Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Seizure
HARDEMAN COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) seized approximately 12 pounds of suspected fentanyl (which is equal to 2.7 million - 2mg doses) after a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper stopped a vehicle in Hardeman County.
On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at 9:07 a.m., a DPS Trooper stopped a 2015 Buick Verano traveling south on US 287 near Quanah for a traffic violation. During the stop, the Trooper discovered six plastic cellophane bags of fentanyl pills.
DPS Special Agents were contacted and assisted with the investigation.
- DPS | Northwest Texas Region: Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Seizure in Wheeler County
WHEELER COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) seized more than 12 pounds of suspected fentanyl Thursday after a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper stopped a vehicle in Wheeler County.
At approximately 8:14 a.m., a DPS Trooper stopped a 2014 Chevrolet Impala traveling east on I-40 near Shamrock for a traffic violation. The Trooper then discovered multiple plastic-wrapped bundles of fentanyl in the rear quarter panels.
Twelve pounds of fentanyl is equivalent to 2.7 million - 2mg doses.
- America's Newsroom: Governor Abbott Discusses Fentanyl Crisis On America's Newsroom
Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) seized over 3.1 million lethal doses of fentanyl, or about 14 pounds, during a single Operation Lone Star (OLS) traffic stop in Mission. This seizure marks one of the largest single fentanyl seizures by OLS to date.
"Through Texas' historic Operation Lone Star mission, a DPS trooper prevented 3.1 million lethal doses of fentanyl—enough to kill every Texan in Austin, Dallas, and El Paso combined—from taking more innocent lives during a single traffic stop," said Governor Abbott. "I thank our brave DPS troopers, and all Operation Lone Star mission personnel, for their work to secure our border and keep Texans safe."
Watch as DPS Director Steven McCraw talks with FOX News about the dangers of the growing fentanyl crisis, the efforts by Governor Abbott to combat this and how Mexican drug cartels are targeting children.
- FOX News: DPS Drug Labs slammed, as fentanyl pours in from Mexico, laced in everything from pills to pot
- The Center Square: Abbott: One person dies every day in Harris County because of fentanyl
"Mexican drug cartels are smuggling fentanyl into our country any way they can,” he (Governor Abbott) said. “It is laced into every other street drug available, as well as being disguised as legal prescriptions, as this lab has discovered. Because of the folks at this lab, who handle potentially lethal drugs every day, we are saving the lives of thousands of Texans from the deadly scourge of fentanyl."
“An agent at the crime lab, Jennifer Hatch, told Carter that as new drugs emerge, and 'new analogs' appear, she and her colleagues are doing their best to combat the drug surge, as well as to figure out what quantities of the deadly toxin are coming into the United States.
“Hatch said it takes only 2 mg of fentanyl, which Carter showed was a barely visible few crystals in a test tube, to kill an adult.
"Those drugs, Carter said, have made their way into places like schools and elsewhere — where at times unsuspecting drug users ingest a cocktail that includes trace amounts of the narcotic; enough to kill them.”
"The problem with that is that those [fake] pills can be made so well that the average user would have no idea what they got from a regular pharmacy and what was actually made at a place like this," Lt. Craig Cummings said.
HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Help DPS spread the message. Share and utilize the resources on this page to help us educate Texans on the dangers of fentanyl. Together, we can make a difference and stop this deadly drug from killing any more of our fellow Texans.
[Data Note: Seizure data represents an extract from a live database, and information is subject to change. The records may not represent the totality of all seizures as existing records are reviewed, approved, and updated, and additional reports are processed. Fentanyl reporting is considered preliminary until verified by lab tests. 2 mg of fentanyl is considered a potentially lethal dose. Pounds are converted to mg, then divided by two to derive lethal doses.]
*Stat as of 01/17/2025