• Have you witnessed a drug poisoning or used naloxone? Please use this Community-based Reporting for Overdose tool to report suspected drug poisonings in your community. Reporting helps to identify key strategies for fighting drug poisoning deaths in Texas. 
• Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) Outreach, Screening, Assessment, and Referral (OSAR): OSAR programs are available to all persons looking for information about substance use services. OSAR progrNavigating Mental Health and Substance Use Care: An Introductory Guide for Families (SAMHSA)(PDF)ams can be the starting point for people who want help accessing substance use services and are unsure where to begin.
• Health and Human Services - Substance Use Service Locations (HHSC)
• Texas One Pill Kills (HHSC)
• Texas Targeted Opioid Response (HHSC)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Guides can help communities respond to the opioid drug poisoning crisis.
• Navigating Mental Health and Substance Use Care: An Introductory Guide for Families (SAMHSA)(PDF)
• One Pill Can Kill (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Important Phone Numbers:
  • 211 Texas or 877-541-7905 - Free and anonymous, available 24/7, 365 days/year. Get help finding resources in your community, help with food or housing, child care, crisis counseling, or substance abuse treatment.
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Offers 24/7 call, text, and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. Call, text, or chat 988 if you are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. Available in Spanish.
  • 911 - If you or someone you know is experiencing an emergency, call 911. Trained staff will dispatch EMS, fire, and police as needed.
• FindHelp.org: Find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more. Enter your zip code or program in the FindHelp search engine and get connected to nearby resources organized by category.
• Be Well, Texas: Be Well, Texas expands access to compassionate, evidence-based treatment for people who use substances and with substance use disorders (alcohol or drug) and/or mental illness. Need help now? Call Be Well, Texas at 888-8523-935.
• Texas Coalition for Healthy Minds: Bystander Law in English and Spanish (Good Samaritan Law)
• Institute for Intergovernmental Research Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Overview (PDF): This document introduces OFR and outlines the purpose and resources needed to facilitate an OFR. OFR is a crucial tool for battling drug poisonings at the community level. Please email toda@dshs.texas.gov for more information.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline at a Glance | Overdose Prevention | CDC
• 2016 vs 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain (PDF)
• First responders can earn continuing education units (CEUs) by enrolling in and taking the full course (5 modules) on trauma-informed approaches for post-overdose outreach teams here: Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care for Post Overdose Outreach Teams (Web Based) - WB4737

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of EMS

• EMS Harm Reduction and SUD Treatment | EMS.gov

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAHMSA)

• Coping with the Drug Poisoning Crisis as a Responder.

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

• Agency Action Plan to Address Substance Use | Texas DSHS
• TODA Reporting Drug Poisoning Events in Texas (PDF) identifies Texas drug poisoning reporting systems and how to report.

UTHealth Houston

• HEROES Courses - Continuing Education - McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):

• Evidence Based Practices Resource Center
• 2023-2026 SAMHSA Strategic Plan
• Advisory: Low Barrier Models of Care for Substance Use Disorders

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

•  CDC State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) dashboard
• CDC Xylazine webpage
• Center for Forensic Science Research and Education Chlorphine Alert (PDF)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Overdose Prevention Strategy

Data Products:

• Syndromic Surveillance Reports
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, July 2026
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, June 2026
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, May 2026
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, April 2026
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, March 2026
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, February 2026
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, January 2026
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, December 2025
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, November 2025
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, October 2025
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, September 2025
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, August 2025
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, July 2025
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, June 2025
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, May 2025
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, April 2025
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, March 2025
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, February 2025
  • Suspected Drug Poisoning Emergency Department Visits in Texas, January 2025

Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

• TODA Reporting Drug Poisoning Events in Texas (PDF in English)

Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC)

• Texas Substance Use Resources (PDF in English)
• Recursos en Texas sobre el consumo de sustancias (PDF in Spanish)

It is important for people at the scene of drug poisonings (bystanders) to have and know how to use naloxone to save lives. In Texas in 2024, 43% of drug poisonings had a bystander present. This means nearly 2,000 lives could have been saved if bystanders had given naloxone. We encourage everyone to carry naloxone and learn how to use it.

Is Your Community or Organization Ready for a Naloxone Vending Machine?

• Readiness Assessment for Naloxone Dispensers (PDF)

Dispose of Unused Medication

• DEA Drug Take Back Drop-off Locations

Donate Your Expired Naloxone

• NEXT Distro

Find Free and Reduced-Cost Naloxone

• Naloxone Locator Map

General Resources

• How to Use NARCAN Nasal Spray
• CDC's 5 Things to Know About Naloxone
• CDC's How to Use Naloxone Nasal Spray video
• Texas Targeted Opioid Response
• Overdose Bystander Law: HB 1694 Educational Brief (PDF)
• Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council

Order Free Naloxone

• Texas Overdose Prevention
• Naloxone Texas

TODA-Supported State Toxicology Expansion Program (STEP) -- Partnership between DSHS and NMS Labs

• STEP goals:
  • Support comprehensive toxicology testing for Texas medical examiners and justices of the peace.
  • Increase ability of offices to identify specific drugs associated with unintentional and undetermined drug poisoning deaths.
  • Cover a variety of test codes for drug poisoning deaths when ordered under a TODA-supported account.
• TODA Surveillance Support document (PDF)
• Drug Poisoning Supplemental (PDF): For offices doing death investigations to use for reporting scene information for drug poisonings. This form helps streamline and standardize death investigations for medical examiner offices and justices of the peace.