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San Antonio, the seventh-largest city in the United States with a metro population exceeding 2.4 million, faces significant challenges related to opioid misuse and overdose. Its proximity to the Mexican border contributes to a high-risk environment for substance abuse, making it crucial to understand the impact on local healthcare systems.
The city has experienced a troubling rise in the availability and use of potent synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, which has led to a corresponding spike in overdose deaths. In recent years, the San Antonio area and Bexar County have seen a growing number of emergency room visits and fatalities linked to opioid overdoses, reflecting broader national trends.
Efforts to combat this crisis include expanded access to addiction treatment services, naloxone distribution programs to reverse overdoses, and initiatives aimed at reducing the over-prescription of opioid medications. Local public health officials, law enforcement, and community organizations continue to work together to address the multifaceted challenges posed by the opioid epidemic in the region.
Key Statistics on Opioid Use in San Antonio:
- The majority of people misusing prescription opioids are also misusing other substances, both legal and illegal.
- One-third of Texas newborns diagnosed with opioid withdrawal are born in Bexar County.
- In 2021, the Bexar County opioid overdose death rate was 10.5 per 100,000 residents.
Opioid Overdose Statistics in San Antonio
- In 2022, 35% of over 550 overdose deaths in Bexar County involved a combination of cocaine, heroin, and meth, while another 32% combined meth with other amphetamines
- The opioid-related death rate in Bexar County is alarmingly high, exceeding the Texas state average by 33%.
- In 2021, Bexar County reported 246 overdose deaths.
- In 2022, Bexar County experienced 181 fentanyl-related deaths, a substantial rise from 96 in 2021.
Demographic Data & Insights
The opioid crisis in San Antonio affects various age groups and genders differently. Here are some insights:
- Young adults (ages 18-25) show the highest rates of substance use disorders, including opioid use.
- Older adults (65+) are more likely to be prescribed opioids for chronic pain management.
- Women are more likely to use prescription opioids compared to men, particularly young and middle-aged women.
- The gender gap in opioid use widens with age, with women over 75 outnumbering men by 50% in opioid usage.
Opioid Prescribing Trends
In Bexar County, Texas, opioid prescription rates have shown a declining trend, following a national pattern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data indicates a steady decrease in opioid prescriptions, with the rate dropping to 39.5 prescriptions per 100 people nationwide by 2022. Bexar County has mirrored this trend, with efforts to manage and reduce opioid prescriptions through various initiatives, including the Physician Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).
Despite these efforts, the presence of fentanyl in the drug supply has complicated the landscape, leading to more overdoses and deaths. The San Antonio Metro Health Department's Opioid Task Force is actively working to combat the crisis. This includes increasing the availability of naloxone to first responders and other organizations, enhancing prescriber training on opioid prescribing practices, and encouraging greater use of the PDMP to identify and intervene with patients at high risk of misuse.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy to address both the medical and social aspects of the opioid epidemic in the region, emphasizing the need for comprehensive approaches to reduce prescription rates and improve treatment and intervention strategies.
State Funds & Resource Allocation
San Antonio and Bexar County are taking steps to address the opioid crisis:
- The city has recognized opioid and stimulant overdoses as a public health crisis.
- The City of San Antonio has allocated funds to the Metropolitan Health District to administer opioid-related programs.
- Bexar County has received $14.4 million in opioid settlement funds to address the crisis.
- A pilot program is planned to offer select inmates a monthly shot of Vivitrol, an extended-release prescription drug that reduces cravings for alcohol and opioids.
- This initiative would make Bexar County among the first in Texas to offer this treatment in county jails.
- Improving treatment accessibility and utilization:
- Expanding MAT services: More facilities are offering MAT, increasing the options for those seeking treatment.
- Improving affordability: Some centers, like the San Antonio Recovery Center, focus on providing quality treatment at affordable rates.
- Increasing awareness: Public health initiatives aim to educate the community about available treatment options and the importance of seeking help.
- Addressing the opioid crisis: The city is allocating funds from opioid lawsuit settlements to increase the availability of Narcan, a life-saving medication for opioid overdoses.
By focusing on these local data points and initiatives, San Antonio is working to tailor its response to the unique challenges posed by prescription opioids in the community. Continued monitoring and adaptation of strategies will be crucial in addressing this ongoing public health crisis.
Resource & Support Groups in San Antonio
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in San Antonio
- SMART Recovery in San Antonio
- MedMark Treatment Centers - San Antonio Quincy
- Offers comprehensive MAT options, including methadone and buprenorphine, combined with counseling and therapy.
- Address: 7428 Parkcrest Dr, Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78239
- New Season Treatment Center - San Antonio
- Provides MAT with methadone, buprenorphine, and Suboxone, as well as individual, group, and family therapy.
- Address: 3701 West Commerce, San Antonio, TX 78207
- Community Medical Services (CMS) - San Antonio on McCarty
- Specializes in MAT with options like methadone, Suboxone, and naltrexone, offering tailored treatment plans and counseling.
- Address: 437 McCarty Road Suite 600, San Antonio, TX 78216
Frequently Asked Questions
If you do not have insurance, the cost can vary based on the prescribed dose. Patients unable to afford buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) (regardless of insurance coverage) can apply for cost-assistance. The company that makes Suboxone offers this type of program to help reduce out-of-pocket expenses. To learn more, go to: inSupport program.
You can also get discounted buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) using pharmacy coupons or cash prizes. If you go to the GoodRx website (goodrx.com), you can enter in your zip code and find coupons and discounts at your pharmacy of choice. (On average, if you use GoodRx coupons/discounts, you can slash the typical price of generic Suboxone film from $395 to $118).
Before you are prescribed buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), you will need to undergo an initial medical evaluation so that the doctor can ensure that it is an appropriate medication for you, though this does not require an in-person visit and can be done via telehealth (with video or telephone).
Once you have completed this assessment, the doctor will send a prescription to your preferred pharmacy. So, yes! You can find a licensed buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) provider online and they can get you started on it via telehealth services without any in-person appointments.
- Buprenorphine/naloxone (Subxone) which is available in outpatient clinics (at your primary care doctor’s office or a psychiatrist’s office)
- Naloxone (Vivitrol) which is available in outpatient clinics (at your primary care doctor’s office or a psychiatrist’s office)
- Methadone, which is available only through methadone clinics
If you are interested in Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) offered entirely through telehealth services, visit bicyclehealth.com. To get help on finding other treatment options and levels of care (such as inpatient programs, intensive outpatient programs/IOPs, residential programs, and methadone clinics), call the SAMHSA helpline at:
1-800-662-HELP (4357).
