Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ATCEMS) announced the end of Austin's "largest overdose outbreak" in nearly a decade, which saw a 1,000% increase in call volumes due to what is believed to be a "deadly batch" of narcotics, reported KVUE. ATCEMS indicated that the week-long spike in opioid-related incidents has subsided, with overdoses returning to usual levels following an intense distribution effort of Narcan, a medication that can reverse the effects of opioids.

During the surge between April 29 and early May, 79 suspected overdoses were reported along with nine deaths, a detail not lost on the authorities as they battled to counteract the sudden wave of injuries. "All of the lives that were saved throughout the last couple of days have been due to Narcan," ATCEMS' chief deputy medical director, Heidi Abraham, told KVUE. The medical service doubled its usual amount of Narcan hand-outs across the city, distributing a significant 438 doses in response to the crisis.

In connection with the wave of overdoses, the Austin Police Department and ATCEMS's investigations led to the detainment of two individuals, one of whom was identified as 55-year-old Johnny Lee Wright. According to a press release by KXAN, Wright has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, with other potential charges pending. As of now, Wright remains in the Travis County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

The affidavit, obtained by KXAN, detailed "multiple hand-to-hand transactions" observed by the Austin Police Department's HALO cameras, which offer high-resolution imagery capable of capturing detailed incidents on the city's streets. These observations were instrumental in identifying Wright and an as-yet-unnamed associate as individuals allegedly involved in distributing the narcotics that led to the overdose incidents. Both have been known to officers as narcotics dealers in the downtown area, with Wright having "several previous felony convictions," according to police records.