ARLINGTON, Texas — The city of Arlington announced it will be providing free doses of naloxone to bars, hotels and motels in an effort to prevent fatal opioid overdoses.
Tarrant County reported a 22% increase in fentanyl deaths from 2021 to 2022. According to Tarrant County data, 176 fentanyl-related deaths were reported in 2022, most of them unintentional. That's more than the number of deaths between 2016 and 2020 combined at 134.
To combat this, the city's health department will be providing two free doses to businesses as part of a larger "Naloxone Texas" Initiative by UT Health San Antonio. The naloxone is being provided by Unity Recovery in Weatherford.
Any Arlington businesses interested in participating can apply by filling out a form here.
“Studies show that people who work in the hospitality industry have higher rates of substance use than any other profession,” City of Arlington Health Services Manager Aimee Rockhill said in a statement. “Other cities across the country have had great success working with restaurants and bars to have naloxone on site, just like you would with a first aid kit, an Automated External Defibrillator, or a fire extinguisher. It’s for a worse-case scenario. But if something bad happens, you could save a life.”
There are about 200 bars, hotels and motels in Arlington, but Rockhill said the program is open to any business interested in participating.
“People never have a chance to get better from substance use if they die. This is happening in our community. We need to be on the preventative side,” Rockhill said.
The doses will be provided with instructions on use and storage by a city health inspector.
