Pills smoked on tin foil. Image from TAG presentation by Sgt. Tony Williams
Editor’s note: Last February, we published “High school salutatorian’s tragic death illustrates Lubbock’s deadly fentanyl epidemic.” The story was partly about Cloe McCullough dying of a drug overdose after struggling in college with fentanyl and other drugs. The other part of the story was information from Tony Williams, a sergeant with the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Department about fentanyl. It remains the single most-read story in our almost year-and-a-half history. What’s happened since?
Sergeant Tony Williams and other officers with the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office are still making presentations about the dangers of fentanyl. It’s been seen by 25,000 people at schools or civic clubs, he said.
But a year later, fentanyl is still a deadly scourge and efforts to fight the drug are mixed.
Last year, officials discussed plans for better communication between government, hospitals and law enforcement. LubbockLights.com found one item of progress – overdose mapping which is explained below. But it’s not close to having an impact yet.
Prices have also dropped, making the drugs more affordable.
There is some good news – fewer people are now tricked into unknowingly taking fentanyl.
“For the most part now, when people are buying pills, they know exactly what they’re getting. … They pretty much know it’s going to either be fentanyl or have fentanyl in it,” Williams said.
That wasn’t the case a year ago. People were trying to buy Xanax or oxycodone but ending up with counterfeit pills that were fentanyl.
There’s another development Williams hopes will help.
The newly elected Trump Administration has promised to crack down on fentanyl smuggled into the United States.
Tip for parents
Parents who want to spot early signs of drug abuse need to know what to look for. That includes burnt straws, pens taken apart, and balled up foil. Use the link to see more about that from our February 28, 2024 story.
The new crackdown
The federal government threatened tariffs against both Mexico and Canada on February 1. President Donald Trump pushed back the start date until March 4 after both nations agreed to do more to stop drug trafficking across their respective U.S. borders.
Last week, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said U.S. drone flights over its territory are part of a collaborative effort to stop cartels from smuggling drugs into the U.S., as reported by the Associated Press, Reuters and others. Mexico also recently announced 10,000 troops were dispatched to the border for extra security.
“I hope it does have an impact. I hope it slows down. There hasn’t been enough time to gauge that,” Williams said of fentanyl trafficking from Mexico.
Could border crackdowns stop fentanyl in Lubbock? Maybe not. People could set up fentanyl labs locally.
“It wouldn’t be that hard to find somebody to get the precursors … and it’s not hard to get a pill press,” Williams said.
“We haven’t found any labs – large labs – here in Lubbock in a long time,” he added.
Overdose deaths in Lubbock County
LubbockLights.com requested information from the Lubbock Health Department concerning drug overdose deaths.
Citing information from the Centers for Disease Control, the health department said between August 2023 and July 2024, there were 41 unintentional drug overdose deaths in Lubbock County. Those are preliminary numbers.
A chart below from 2019 through 2023 (from the health department based on CDC data) showed up to 48 deaths per year. The outlier was 2020 with 29 deaths. All the deaths are from opioids, but not all are fentanyl.
“Opioids are a class of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic drugs. These include both prescription medications used to treat pain and illegal drugs like heroin. Opioids are addictive,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse website.
And cheaper illegal drugs don’t help.
Methamphetamine in Lubbock is $200 an ounce. Years ago, it was $1,400. Fentanyl pills are between $3 and $7. They used to be $30.
“The price has dropped pretty dramatically in the last four to five years. … Over the last year, it’s pretty steady,” Williams said.
Some horrid things are still happening
A year ago, fentanyl dealers got young women addicted. From there, the girls were manipulated into both sex trafficking and recruiting new customers, Williams said.
Williams quoted one dealer, after getting arrested, as saying, “I can’t walk into a Texas Tech party or an LCU party and sell pills. But that girl right there can.”
Is that still the case?
“The cartels will use anything they can, but, yes, they are still pushing younger people to deal for them,” Williams said.
LubbockLights.com also asked Williams if fentanyl dealers are still making deadly doses – knowing it can kill their customers.
“From what I know they aren’t purposely doing anything but trying to put out the strongest drugs they can. The labs are very clandestine, so [I’m] not sure they do anything but try to push out the drugs as quick as they can,” Williams said.
Not communicated
The sheriff’s office and the Texas Anti-Gang Unit in Lubbock are not notified when someone dies from an overdose, Williams said.
A year ago he told LubbockLights.com, “We do not have a good system right now between medical and law enforcement to record this.”
Hospitals in Texas are required to report overdoses of controlled substances to the Department of State Health Services. (Reports go to the Texas Poison Center Network.)
Disclosure of the patient’s identity is prohibited according to the Poison Center’s website.
In 2023, Texas passed a law to share overdose information with law enforcement agencies participating in an overdose mapping program, which helps law enforcement see a spike in overdose events and react faster.
The Lubbock Police Department does not use overdose mapping, according to an email from a spokesperson.
The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office has it, but it’s new. The department just got log-in credentials this month.
“It is a newer tool for the Sheriff’s Office. We are still working on how to best utilize overdose mapping in the interest of public safety,” Cpl. Tracie Manthei said.
Pills are dangerous
There’s a perception pills are not dangerous.
“Americans take pills for everything,” Williams said.
Needles and crack pipes are scary but not pills. Williams uses his presentation to say otherwise – pills can be scary. He’s seen fentanyl disguised as children’s vitamins.
“Then once you’re hooked, it’ll take your soul,” Williams said.
The youngest person to overdose Williams knows of was a 12-year-old.
“With fentanyl, education is key.” Williams said.
On March 27, the presentation Williams makes will be recognized in the Washington D.C. metro area.
“It’s a national award,” Williams said.
Lubbock is inside the Texoma HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) and the award will come during an event by the National HIDTA Assistance Center.
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