KYLE, Texas — “It’s not a volume issue, it’s per patient, 6 to 8 milligrams a time just to bring someone out of it,” Robinson said.

 San Marcos-Hays County EMS Battalion Chief, Scott Robinson, has seen plenty in his 21 years of service but this is different.

 “I’m definitely shocked at how quickly the fentanyl issue took hold in Central Texas,” Robinson said. “It’s the new problem of 2022 and we’ve seen that ingested more historically than any narcotic we’ve dealt with.”

To combat the rise of this deadly synthetic opioid, first responders across the region are increasing their supply of Narcan (Naloxone) in every vehicle. (Spectrum News 1/Dylan Scott)

A father of a high school and elementary school student, fentanyl overdoses are a daily worry. In recent weeks, it has claimed the lives of four Hays County ISD students.

“This is something that certainly hits home with me,” Robinson said.

It’s also the likely culprit in a nearly 45% increase in using Narcan (Naloxone) for patients this year.

“We’ve had to adjust the quantities of Narcan that we have to carry in our ambulances. All of our admin vehicles have Narcan. That was the reactive approach,” Robinson said.

However, right now, prevention is the one true lifesaver. The county website currently shows four-in-every-10 pills can contain a lethal dose of the synthetic opioid.

“The most effective approach, if you can reach as many people and make them aware not only of the dangers but the long-term consequences of usage,” Robinsons said.

Just a few miles away at the Kyle Police Department, Captain Pedro Hernandez and his team are fighting to get these deadly narcotics off the streets.

“Our officers have responded to many calls, roughly 25 overdose cases this year,” Hernandez said.

So far, they’ve made two key arrests, as they work their way up the ladder with the local sheriff’s department, San Marcos Police Department and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to uncover how these pills are flooding the market.

Kyle Police Department Captain, Pedro Hernandez, says there’s a collaborative effort underway to track and combat the flow of Fentanyl across Central Texas. Currently, there have been two arrests made regarding the sale of these pills. (Spectrum News 1/Dylan Scott)

“We are getting some information that we are able to follow up on,” Hernandez said.

A parent and 25-year veteran, Hernandez says stopping this new wave is a top priority but collaborative efforts this large will take time.

“It’s probably not going to go away anytime soon,” Hernandez said.