Laredo public-health partners report drop in opioid deaths, continue naloxone distribution and outreach
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Summary
Laredo Public Health reported declines in opioid-related deaths and described ongoing harm-reduction work including naloxone distribution, wound-care outreach for people experiencing homelessness, and an overdose-referral partnership with fire and police.
Laredo Public Health and partner agencies said they have seen a decline in opioid-related deaths compared with recent years and outlined ongoing harm-reduction steps including naloxone distribution and wound-care outreach.
A Laredo Public Health official reported that opioid-related deaths have fallen from previously cited peaks to smaller figures in recent reporting and said naloxone distribution so far in 2026 totals 84 boxes, compared with roughly 1,300 in 2025 and about 1,200 in 2024. “So far in these 2 months or less than 2 months, we've distributed 84 boxes,” the official said.
The discussion also highlighted wound-care outreach that targets people experiencing homelessness and people who use drugs. A presenter described teams handing out wound-care kits, giving basic instruction on cleaning wounds, and connecting people to Gateway clinic and other services. “Each interaction is an opportunity to build trust, listen, and connect individuals to health, safety, and recovery resources when they are ready,” a public-health speaker said.
Roots Recovery Center staff provided service numbers: 35 individuals served in the month referenced and 210 individuals served since the program year began in September 2025; staff said 284 people had been screened to date. Officials said most recent increases in contacts were driven by alcohol-related admissions and that outreach teams follow up by phone or home visit when people do not enter services immediately.
Agencies discussed an overdose-referral program to improve follow-up after fire or EMS overdose calls. Presenters said the program seeks to reduce barriers created when uniformed responders visit a person’s door and to ensure that people who decline one facility can still be placed on state wait lists for alternative treatment providers. City staff said legal limits and federal funding shifts constrain how much outreach can be expanded now, and members agreed to revisit funding and staffing when additional grant opportunities arise.
The committee did not take formal action beyond approving administrative coordination; staff said they will return with more detailed referral workflows and data-sharing guidance for future meetings.
