Governor Abbott joins families and advocates for third annual Soles 4 Souls Fentanyl Awareness Walk
San Antonio, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott joined Texas families, community advocates, and local officials yesterday at the 3rd Annual “Soles 4 Souls” Fentanyl Awareness Walk in San Antonio, where he recognized the courageous efforts of those working to fight the deadly fentanyl crisis in communities across the state.
“We will continue to grow this movement until we purge fentanyl forever in the United States of America,” said Governor Abbott. “There’s an unfortunate fact that we all must understand—there’s more work to be done. All I can ask is that you take the message you learned today and expand it tenfold around San Antonio, around Texas, making our city and our state an ever safer place.”
Governor Abbott was joined by San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz-Jones, Soles Walking 4 Souls Directors Kathy Drago and Christina Villagrana, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, KSAT-TV News Anchor Courtney Friedman, and numerous families and advocates who have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning.
A Statewide Push for Awareness and Prevention
The walk comes during a pivotal time in Texas’ battle against fentanyl. In 2023, Governor Abbott signed House Bill 3144, officially proclaiming every October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month. In addition, the Governor issued a proclamation designating October 12–18, 2025, as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week to help educate children on the dangers of fentanyl and empower them with life-saving knowledge.
These proclamations are part of a growing effort in Texas to amplify awareness and prevent further loss of life. At the walk, the Governor emphasized how far the state has come, but also how much work remains.
Earlier this year, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) launched an interactive online map showing where Texans can find Naloxone (NARCAN)—either free or for purchase. This life-saving medication can reverse the effects of fentanyl overdose, and the tool is part of Texas’ larger “One Pill Kills” campaign, aimed at providing resources and education statewide.
New Data Shows Significant Progress
For the first time in years, there is measurable progress in Texas’ fight against fentanyl. New data from the Texas fentanyl data dashboard shows that fentanyl poisoning deaths dropped by over 42% from July 2024 to June 2025, compared to the previous 12 months.
This decline comes after five consecutive years of increases, during which the state saw a 600% rise in fentanyl-related deaths between 2019 and 2023. During that four-year period, more than 7,000 Texans died from fentanyl poisoning.
The awareness walk served as a space of remembrance and renewed resolve, bringing families, law enforcement, and state leaders together under a common cause—to educate, prevent, and save lives. Governor Abbott reaffirmed the state’s commitment to expanding awareness, enforcement, and access to life-saving tools in every Texas community.
