The number of fentanyl-related deaths in El Paso decreased for the second year in a row, but the deadly synthetic opioid is still present in the Borderland community.
“Every death that doesn’t happen because of fentanyl is great news,” U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeffery Castillo said. “We’re glad the numbers are going down, but that doesn’t mean the fight’s over.”
There were 46 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in El Paso County in 2025, a slight decrease from 48 the previous year, but this shows a promising downward trend. At the height of the fentanyl epidemic, there were 98 fatal overdoses in 2023, the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office 2025 annual report states.
The increase in fentanyl-related deaths began around the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped the epidemic explode. Law enforcement officials believe several factors played a role, including the pandemic, which forced people to stay home and be isolated from their communities.
Fentanyl-related deaths in El Paso had stayed between four and 12 deaths each year from 2015 to 2018, which had only seven deaths. There were 18 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2019. The number saw a dramatic spike in 2020 with 45 deaths. The numbers continued to grow with 78 deaths in 2021 and 80 the next year before nearly hitting 100 in 2023.
This is the first time the number of fentanyl deaths has declined in El Paso since 2018, the report shows. Overall, there were 128 drug overdose deaths in El Paso in 2025, down from 169 in 2022.
“The results are encouraging and we’re happy with those results, and we’re happy that the deaths are declining, because that means our communities aren’t having to bury their loved ones,” Castillo said. “We’re ecstatic about all that, but for us, the fight isn’t over. It’s just another phase in our fight.”
What is bringing fentanyl deaths down?
There isn’t one reason why El Paso, the state of Texas and most of the U.S. have seen a decrease in fentanyl deaths, but increased awareness and stricter legal punishment against drug dealers have played a significant role.
“We believe it’s a combination of strong enforcement, increased public awareness, greater availability of Narcan, and more education throughout our community,” said El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Commander Jerome Washington, who oversees the sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division.
“Those efforts are making a difference, but fentanyl remains a significant threat, and we can’t become complacent. More and more citizens are learning the dangers of fentanyl.”
Naloxone, better known as Narcan, is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose.
The increased public awareness of the dangers of fentanyl includes the DEA’s ‘One Pill Can Kill’ campaign and other programs where federal, state and local law enforcement are talking to students and parents at local schools and community events.
“Don’t think that’s the end of it,” Castillo said. “The numbers show that there are still people dying from fentanyl. What we are seeing is progress, not a victory. Fentanyl continues to kill Americans. It continues to kill El Pasoans. Our work isn’t finished and people shouldn’t feel that it’s any safer now than it was two or three years ago.”
Another key battleground is in the state and federal judicial system.
The first alleged drug dealer charged in Texas state courts on a murder charge in connection with a fentanyl-related death was filed in El Paso in April 2025. Eric Robles was indicted on one count each of murder and manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance after a victim he allegedly sold fentanyl-laced drugs to died. His case remains pending in Texas district court. He is facing life in prison.
The charge against Robles was made possible by the Texas legislature passing House Bill 6 in 2023. The bill allows law enforcement to charge a defendant with murder for supplying fentanyl that resulted in a death.
“While the decrease in fentanyl overdose fatalities in our community is welcome news, fentanyl remains a significant danger to those who misuse controlled substances in El Paso and throughout the country,” El Paso District Attorney James Montoya said. “Because of that danger, El Paso law enforcement agencies and our office continue to investigate and prosecute hundreds of fentanyl-related cases with the utmost seriousness.
“Fentanyl overdose fatalities are investigated as homicides, and when the evidence establishes that a person caused another’s death by selling or providing fentanyl or a fentanyl-laced substance, they will be charged with murder.”
Cocaine leading overdose deaths in El Paso
Fentanyl had been the leading cause of overdose deaths in El Paso County since 2020. Methamphetamine became the leading cause of overdose deaths in 2024, but cocaine overtook fentanyl and meth as the leading cause of overdose deaths in El Paso County in 2025.
Several factors may be contributing to the increase in cocaine usage and overdose deaths, Washington said.
“First, today cocaine is frequently contaminated with fentanyl or other synthetic substances, and users often have no way of knowing what is actually in the drug,” Washington said. “Second, changes in drug availability and user behavior can shift overdose patterns over time.”
A false sense of security could also be leading to the increase of cocaine and other drugs.
“As we in law enforcement continue to focus heavily on fentanyl, individuals may return to stimulants such as cocaine, believing they are safer,” Washington said. “Unfortunately, illegal drugs have become increasingly unpredictable.”
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office tips to stay safe from fentanyl
Fentanyl remains one of the most dangerous drugs encountered in the Borderland, Washington said.
It is extremely potent, and a person may unknowingly consume it because it is frequently mixed into counterfeit pills or other illegal narcotics, such as cocaine, without the user’s knowledge. To continue reducing overdose deaths, the Sheriff’s Office encourages the community to:
“The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the community that the decline in fentanyl deaths is encouraging, but our mission remains the same: protect lives, hold traffickers accountable, and educate our community,” Washington said. “The numbers may be moving in the right direction, but one preventable death is still one too many. Whether it’s fentanyl, cocaine, or another illicit substance, today’s drug supply is unpredictable and unforgiving.
“The safest choice is simply not to use illegal drugs. Our deputies will continue pursuing those who profit from addiction while working alongside our community partners to prevent the next overdose before it happens.”
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: ‘One death is too many:’ El Paso fentanyl deaths decline, but danger remains
Reporting by Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
