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New dashboard breaks down fentanyl-related deaths in Texas

July 14, 2023 / 9:49 AM CDT / CBS Texas

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DALLAS (CBSNewsTexas.com) – There is a new tool available to the public that tracks the deadly impact of the fentanyl epidemic throughout Texas.

Governor Greg Abbott has launched a fentanyl dashboard on the Department of State Health Services' website.

The dashboard, below, shows drug poisoning deaths in orange and fentanyl-related deaths in blue.

So far, in 2023, there have been 540 deaths from fentanyl. Just last year, there were 2,100 deaths from fentanyl.

About a month ago, Abbott signed a bill that will classify fentanyl deaths as poisonings – it will go into effect in September. Additionally, it increases criminal penalties for producing, selling and distributing fentanyl.

Fentanyl

Julia Falcon

Julia Falcon is a digital content producer at CBS News Texas. Julia has previously written for news outlets across Dallas-Fort Worth like the Denton Record-Chronicle, D Magazine, 1080 KRLD and 105.3 The Fan. She covers a span of topics, focusing on sports and trending topics. Every week, Julia produces a show called "Eye on Trending," where she answers top trending questions.