Maggie Luna on the reduction in deaths due to fentanyl in Austin, Texas

Maggie Luna (Leading with Conviction™ 2021) with the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance speaks on the 2024 Travis County Medical Examiner’s report and what her organization has been doing to help reduce the number of overdose deaths in Austin-Travis County.

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Without sustained and increased investment, this progress is at risk.

“My name is Maggie Luna. I am the Executive Director of Texas Harm Reduction Alliance, and today we are here with some encouraging news: Drug-related deaths, including those caused by fentanyl, are down in Travis County. And while that is something to celebrate, it did not happen by accident. This progress is the result of intentional coordinated work from every corner of our community.

“At Texas Harm Reduction Alliance, we work together shoulder-to-shoulder with people who are most impacted by the crisis. Our small but mighty team—all of us who have lived experience—have been on the ground every day. We have reversed overdoses at bus stops, on sidewalks, encampments. We’ve distributed Narcan. We’ve hosted trainings. We helped hundreds access housing, mental health care, substance use treatment, and medical care.

“This is what happens when community and government work together, not in silos but in solidarity. Support from Travis County, Austin Public Health, EMS, City Council, and Judge Brown has helped us reach thousands, but our work is far from over.

“These numbers do represent progress, but they also represent people. And the reality is, without sustained and increased investment, this progress is at risk. We’re facing a federal funding crisis, and the cost of living continues to rise. Yet our small but scrappy team serves 60 to 70 people a day at our drop-in center, a space that provides not only supplies but dignity, trust, and life-saving care.

“We have proven what’s possible when you invest in people. Last year we had over 300 documented overdose reversals, but we cannot let up now. We are asking the city to stay committed, the county to committed, so that every person in our community has not just the chance to survive but the opportunity to thrive.”