Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, along with several college football coaches in the state, has launched an ad campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl. The ad will air at high school football games across Texas on Friday night, featuring coaches such as UT Austin’s Steve Sarkisian and Texas A&M’s Mike Elko.
The campaign comes in response to a startling increase in fentanyl-related deaths in Texas, which have risen by more than 600% from 2019 to 2023, claiming the lives of 7,000 people in a four-year period. Last year, Abbott designated October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month in Texas and signed bipartisan laws aimed at preventing and penalizing fentanyl deaths.
In the ad, the coaches urge Texas high schoolers and parents to educate themselves about the dangers of fentanyl and practice safe behaviors. The campaign seeks to spread awareness about the risks associated with the drug and encourage communities to take action to prevent further deaths.
This collaboration between the governor and college football coaches demonstrates a united effort to combat the fentanyl crisis in Texas and protect the well-being of residents. By leveraging the influence of sports figures and reaching audiences at high school football games, the campaign aims to educate and empower individuals to make informed decisions regarding fentanyl use.
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