Filmmaker Charlie Minn and Detective Justin King. Image by Venus Bayat.
By Urvi Dalal
As death tolls due to illegally manufactured fentanyl have rapidly multiplied in the last decade, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill to counter the growing crisis in Texas. Fentanyl deaths are now classified as poisonings, and fentanyl-related deaths can be tried as murder, according to a new law that took effect in September.
Additionally, Texas public schools from sixth to twelfth grades are now required to teach students about drug abuse prevention, including fentanyl abuse, through a law effective earlier this year.
Detective Justin King of the Lubbock Police Department said during panel discussion hosted with students at Texas Tech, on Oct. 27 in the College of Media & Communication, that fentanyl is the most prominent drug in Lubbock.
“Today we’re seeing seizures of 20, 30, 50,000 pills at a time,” King said. “I would say it’s 80% of our cases at this point.”
Low cost is a large factor in the spread of fentanyl. With pills costing anywhere between $3 to $15, it’s easy to access, King added.
Fentanyl kills approximately five Texans a day. Fentanyl is also known to be 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, according to Texas Health and Human Services. Many pills brought on the street are laced with fentanyl and, as King noted, it’s impossible to identify those that have been tampered with.
Filmmaker Charlie Minn told the same audience that his interest in the fentanyl crisis arose because of two main factors: the death of artists Prince and Tom Petty; however, the crisis isn’t exclusive to the rich and famous.
With the narcotic becoming mainstream, Minn said many people don’t realize they’re taking fentanyl.
“I call it the invisible drug, a sneak attack drug, a blindside hit drug,” Minn said. “You can’t see it, taste it, or smell it.”
Both Minn and King said some individuals believe they are taking Percocet, OxyContin, or Xanax and may have no idea that the pill has been laced.
Synthetic opioid-related overdoses account for over 150 deaths of Americans every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, illegally made fentanyl can be seen in various forms and is distributed through common, daily-use items including eye drops.
Averie Holder, clinical director of Stages of Recovery, said they are an outpatient program that provides transitional living. Transitional living is another word for sober living, an area where individuals in clinical care can reside while recovering.
Holder said she doesn’t know if there will ever be a time when people don’t need treatment.
“[The need for treatment] remains pretty steady,” she said.
Holidays and the beginning of the school year are some of the Stages of Recovery’s busiest months due to an influx of people seeking treatment. Many clients also seek assistance due to job requirements.
In instances of substance use disorder, especially in youth, Holder said parents tend to blame themselves.
“I would say the worst thing in life is for a parent to lose their kid,” Minn said. “There’s nothing worse than that. I’ve met parents who are literally suicidal. They can’t move on. Somehow, they wake up, put on a fake smile, [and] go about their business.”
In cases of fentanyl-related deaths, parents typically believe they “should have seen it coming,” he said, as most parents may believe they should have noticed the warning signs.
Clients dealing with substance use disorder have to work to build back trust with family and professional relationships.
“Our hope is that they come out and that they’re able to live a fully functional life and give back more to the world than they take away from the world,” Holder said.
Due to the highly addictive nature of fentanyl, once used, people will chase that first high; however, they will never have it again, Holder said.
“You’re literally playing Russian roulette with your life,” she said.
Holder, who is also in recovery from substance use disorder, said if a client has realized that they don’t want to die, they can do better for themselves.
However, there is always the risk of relapse, often caused by stressors.
Holder used a baseball analogy to explain one example of the addiction, recovery, and relapse process.
Graphic by Urvi Dalal, as described by Averie Holder.
Holder said using substances such as fentanyl, cocaine, crystal meth, and others are “the major leagues.” However, when injured, or in recovery, addicts are sent back to the “minor leagues” using substances such as marijuana or alcohol.
But what is the goal?
Holder said more than anything, these players want to “make it back to the major leagues.”
Holder used this analogy to highlight her belief that “abstinence is the only type of approach to recovery.”
Another factor in the spread of fentanyl is the large number of distributors.
Approximately “twenty-five percent of Texans have suffered an opioid overdose or know somebody who has,” Minn said.
Minn blamed geography. He said Texas is a “victim of location” to the Mexican border. Most of the fentanyl supply coming from Mexico, into the United States, is from two cartels, Cártel de Sinaloa and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación
Furthermore, he said the passing of new fentanyl laws was a good first step but more needs to be done. The “war on drugs has been a failure” for around 60 years, he added.
King suggested that the most important thing individuals can do is get educated, informed, and raise awareness on the topic. He encouraged individuals to learn more about the dangers of fentanyl, and alongside his unit, works to educate Lubbock citizens.
The LPD offers educational classes regarding fentanyl, and anyone can reach out to set it up.
Holder recommended that those who are struggling with addiction or want to meet others in similar positions, for support, visit a 12-step meeting.
While the Abbott administration has taken a stand on the fentanyl crisis, Texas is one of the few states that do not permit the free distribution or possession of drug-checking equipment.
Studies also show that the possibility of getting caught is a larger deterrent to committing a crime than being punished, according to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). Furthermore, going to jail has not been known to reduce crime. The NIJ goes as far as saying it allows criminals to learn “crime strategies” from other prisoners.
However, Minn said, those in power need to do more.
“[It’s] the deadliest drug in the world today,” Minn said.
People seeking assistance with substance use disorder can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national hotline at 800-662-HELP (4357).
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