Detox Centers in Laredo, Texas

Laredo, TX, is a southern Texas city and the seat of Webb County.¹ It is home to 256,153 people.¹ Outside of the territory of Puerto Rico, Laredo is home to the country’s highest percentage of Hispanic Americans, at 95%.² As of 2020, the last year with complete data on drug overdose mortality rates, Texas was the state with the third lowest drug overdose mortality rate: 14.1 drug overdose deaths occurred for every 100,000 people.³ Between May 2021 and May 2022, 5,107 provisional drug overdose deaths were cited in Texas.⁴

Despite having a low drug overdose mortality rate, Texas saw 1,334 fentanyl-related deaths in 2021.⁵ Unfortunately, fentanyl test kits, which can help prevent overdose deaths, are illegal in Texas.⁶ A measure submitted during the 2021 legislative session, which would have eliminated penalties for drug paraphernalia in the state, failed to pass.⁶

Laredo and South Texas generally suffer from a trafficking crisis as more drugs, especially fentanyl, continue to come through ports of entry.⁷ In 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized 588 pounds of fentanyl in the Laredo sector.⁷

In 2021, Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz proclaimed August 31 as Overdose Awareness Day in partnership with overdose awareness groups and organizations.⁸ The goal is to reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths and promote awareness about local resources for those who need help.⁸

According to the treatment locator tool of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), at least 9 facilities treat substance use within 10 miles of Laredo, TX:⁹

• 1 of those facilities provides detox services, including supervised withdrawal care from substance use.
• 5 of those facilities provide outpatient treatment at a program site while patients live independently.
• 2 of those provide hospital inpatient treatment with 24/7 access to medical care.
• 4 facilities provide residential treatment within a program site while patients receive live-in care.
• 3 of those facilities provide co-occurring mental health and substance use treatment, simultaneously addressing addiction and mental health issues.

While not considered treatment, drug and alcohol support groups provide nonclinical and nonprofessional assistance for individuals with similar conditions seeking long-term recovery from substance abuse.¹⁰ Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) are support groups dedicated to those working to abstain from alcohol and drugs.¹⁰ They follow the 12-Step learning path that helps people find long-lasting recovery.¹⁰

While the official A.A. locator tool lists no meeting locations in Laredo, TX, some local organizations provide access to A.A. meetings in Laredo.¹¹

The NA locator tool lists at least 7 N.A. meetings within 10 miles of Laredo, TX. Keep in mind some of these meetings are in Mexico:¹²

Jesus Carranza 1101 (1.94 miles)

Nuevo Laredo, TAM 88000, Mexico

Meetings are available every day at 8 p.m.

Sources:

1. United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). QuickFacts Laredo city, Texas.
2. United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). Census Bureau Table: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino By Race.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, March 1). Drug Overdose Mortality by State.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Provisional drug overdose death counts.
5. Office of the Texas Governor. (2022, February 15). Governor Abbott Holds Roundtable In Fort Worth On Nationwide Fentanyl Crisis.
6. Candace S. (2022, May 10). NBCDFW. Fentanyl Test Kits Used to Prevent Overdose Illegal in Texas.
7. Lisely G. (2022, July 18). KGNS+. Fentanyl crisis in Laredo.
8. Justin R. (2021, August 31). KGNS+. City to proclaim overdose awareness Day.
9. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). Results.
10. Usa.gov. (2022, August 10). Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
11. Alcoholics Anonymous. (n.d.). Find A.A. Near You (North America).
12. Narcotics Anonymous. (n.d.). Narcotics Anonymous Meeting Search Results.