'We're losing our people left and right,' says local drug rehabilitation program director

AUSTIN, Texas — As Austin Police continue investigating the latest fentanyl bust at a storage unit off Blackfoot Trail, local recovery programs like Infinite Recovery are working to manage the impacts of a growing fentanyl problem.

Infinite Recovery staff and medical professionals say one of the most dangerous aspects of fentanyl is many people don't realize they're consuming it.

"This is so impactful in the recovery process because people don't get to recover, they're dying," said executive director of Infinite Recovery Robin Lindeman.

Lindeman says in the last three years they've seen an increase in admissions for people knowingly taking the synthetic drug, but an even higher prevalence in people taking it accidentally.

"We're losing our people left and right," said Lindeman, "Once they die, they don't have the opportunity at this beautiful life this recovered life and it's impacted our clients, our staff, our alumni, everyone has been touched and everyone knows someone that has died of a fentanyl overdose in the industry we work in."

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Fentanyl can be laced into several drugs, including heroin.

"It's a selling point," said Chrissy Cruze, Infinite Recovery's national director of clinical of clinical outreach. "This person has the strongest heroin, so a lot more drug dealers are putting fentanyl in heroin to make it stronger and then that in return makes people more addicted and keeps them coming back."

Fentanyl is intended for use in a medical setting to manage pain, but doctors like Dr. Daniel Walk have seen fentanyl overdoses grow year after year.

"it's honestly awful," said Dr. Walk, member of Texas Medical Association's Committee on Emergency Medical Services and Trauma.

Walk says many states are working to make Naloxone, a life-saving treatment, more publicly available. He hopes Texas expands their reach, too.

"It's part of the way that we can save lives that we can give people a second chance," said Walk.

Infinite Recovery hopes to see more awareness about the disease of addiction so more people can get help.

"People need to know that really good places exist that understand what someone is going through and the dangers around it, and can help bring awareness," said Cruze.