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Did You Know?

 

SheriffDid you know?

Illegal crossings at our southern border continue to increase at record rates. The open border continues to cause issues not only for law enforcement personnel and residents that live and work in cities close to the border, but these issues expand throughout our state and to every other state in America. We are all adversely affected one way or another.

In my article this month, I want to begin the conversation that you should have at your dinner table with your children. A conversation about the increase in illicit drugs coming across our border and into our communities, including illegally imported fentanyl and other opioids. Yes, this is a problem in Kendall County and in our schools; and yes, this is an issue that can affect your family.

What You Should Know

Myth - Only drug addicts die from an overdose of illicit drugs.

In September 2021, for the first time, the number of CDC reported fentanyl-related overdoses in the U.S. reached six figures, exceeding 100,000. A sizable number of these deaths were not your typical overdose by someone that is addicted to drugs; they were first-time users.

Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin or morphine.

Just a grain-of-salt-size amount of fentanyl is enough to cause an overdose. People may not even know they are taking fentanyl, as many times, the drug is used to make counterfeit oxycodone and hydrocodone pills. These drugs are being produced by someone in their backyard, kitchen, or by the cartels in a plant in Mexico with pill-pressing machines, basically using a "kitchen recipe," thinking they are going to put just a small amount of fentanyl into one of these pills or capsules to give that person that high or that boost they need to study just a little longer for that final. The cartels do it as a mixer with other opioids to make it go further. Because no one monitors the production of fentanyl, many pills have too much fentanyl and just enough to kill a person.

 

Fentanyl is cheap to produce, increasing its presence in illicit street drugs.

 

The cartels and dealers use fentanyl to improve their bottom line. According to a report from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, evidence suggests that fentanyl is pressed into pills that resemble OxyContin, Xanax, hydrocodone, and other sought-after drugs, as well as being cut into heroin and other street drugs. A loved one buying illicit drugs may think they know what they're getting, but there's a real risk of it containing fentanyl, which can prove deadly.

Narcan may work in case of overdose, but EMS personnel may need to administer extra doses to successfully reverse the overdose.

Because fentanyl is far more powerful than other opioids, the standard one to two doses of Narcan may not be enough. Calling 911 is the first step in responding to any overdose, but in the case of a fentanyl-related overdose the help of emergency responders, who will have more naloxone, is critical.

Kendall County Sheriff's deputies and other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies have recovered Fentanyl in the area.

In August, law enforcement officials seized a shipment of heroin and fentanyl that was destined for Bexar County in Kendall County outside of Boerne. The seizure and resulting two arrests were part of a Drug Enforcement Administration task force operation. At that time, law enforcement task force officials seized 4 kilograms of black tar heroin and 3 kilograms of fentanyl, believed to be trafficked from Mexico. More recently, KCSO deputies took more than 45,000 pills containing fentanyl off the streets.

It is imperative that we educate our loved ones to the dangers of this lethal drug. It is imperative that they understand it only takes one time and one pill to end their life or the life of a friend may think they are helping when they give them that-just one pill.

The open, easy access to our southern border lends itself to a multitude of problems. The opioid and fentanyl crisis across the U.S., in Texas, and in our local communities is just one of those evils and is exacerbated by the cartels' direct access to our country. The increase in drug trafficking is one way the cartels are controlling our border. In upcoming issues of my column, we will continue to discuss this and other issues that directly impact the safety and security of Kendall County and our loved ones.

Please take the time to educate those you love to the dangers of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced drugs. Reach out to the various organizations within Kendall County if you or your loved one has a problem with illicit drugs or drug addiction.

As always, it is my distinct pleasure to serve and protect the residents of Kendall County! Merry Christmas to you and yours. I wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season!

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