AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two people believed to be persons of interest have been detained following an outbreak of overdoses that left multiple people dead, that’s according to Austin-Travis County EMS.
As of Wednesday, ATCEMS responded to about 70 suspected overdoses, but there could be more as the week continues.
When ATCEMS was asked if all eight deaths involved in this outbreak were opioid-related, they told us, “I do know those eight were suspected of being opiate-related.”
ATCEMS said they responded to 37 overdoses on Monday, 27 on Tuesday and seven on Wednesday.
“It is apparent there is a deadly batch of illicit narcotics in our community,” APD Asst. Chief Eric Fitzgerald said in a Tuesday press conference.
Following the influx of calls, EMS, the homeless strategy office, urban alchemy and nonprofits, like Texas Harm Reduction Alliance hit the ground to distribute Narcan.
ATCEMS said they distributed more than 400 doses to fight back against all the overdoses.
“Unquestionably it is helping,” said ATCEMS spokesperson Captain Christa Stedman. “We have seen in just a number of days the numbers dramatically decline. That is a great thing and I think it speaks to the incredible work that our community health paramedic team and our partners have done in essentially flooding the city with Narcan. It is so easy to use you, don’t hardly need any training.”