Fentanyl busts skyrocket as more Central Texas teens die following suspected overdoses

Border authorities seized a record amount of the synthetic opioid fentanyl in July, most of which came through U.S. ports of entry, data released this month shows.  According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures, officers with the agency’s Office of Field Operations seized approximately 1,800 pounds of fentanyl in July, while U.S. Border Patrol agents who guard the vast border area between ports of entry seized about 340 pounds.

Three Central Texas High School students attending Hays CISD have died from suspected fentanyl overdoses in just the past month, according to district officials.  All three students would have attended Johnson or Lehman High Schools, according to a release from the district.

The district has been working with the Kyle Police Department to alert parents to the dangers of fentanyl.  The police department has responded to at least 16 fentanyl-related overdoses so far this year, with seven resulting in death.

Kyle PD Chief Jeff Barnett said, “Parents – please talk to your children about the dangers of taking any pills that are not prescribed to them by a doctor.  These pills…are street drugs and even one small portion can be deadly.”