INSIDER
Delta-8 hemp and Texas medical marijuana industries to face off in the upcoming legislative session
Read full article: Delta-8 hemp and Texas medical marijuana industries to face off in the upcoming legislative sessionMedical marijuana providers say they must operate under strict rules while hemp products like delta-8 can proliferate.
Couple arrested in big drug bust at South side home now facing federal charges
Read full article: Couple arrested in big drug bust at South side home now facing federal chargesIsaac Martinez-Mendez, 38, and Alicia Dominguez Garcia, who turns 39 next week, were taken into custody after a raid at their home Thursday. Sheriff Javier Salazar said investigators found about $2.5 million in methamphetamine, plus cocaine and cash there.
10 taken into custody during East Side drug raid, BCSO says
Read full article: 10 taken into custody during East Side drug raid, BCSO saysTen people were taken into custody during a drug raid of a home that has been hit by law enforcement at least four times this year, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.
Rehabilitation programs changing trajectory of inmates’ lives; KSAT Investigates takes you inside a prison lockdown
Read full article: Rehabilitation programs changing trajectory of inmates’ lives; KSAT Investigates takes you inside a prison lockdownDuring a KSAT Investigates visit to the Wynne Unit in Huntsville during the statewide lockdown, we had the opportunity to visit with some of the inmates who are leaders in their units and the director of the Rehabilitation Programs Division.
KSAT Investigates takes you inside a Texas prison during a lockdown
Read full article: KSAT Investigates takes you inside a Texas prison during a lockdownKSAT Investigates was granted exclusive access inside a prison while this lockdown was happening to see firsthand what the problems were. This is our day in Huntsville.
Rise Recovery to host sober family friendly festival
Read full article: Rise Recovery to host sober family friendly festivalRise Recovery has been serving the youth and young adults with substance abuse in the community for over 45 years. This Saturday, the organization will host its first festival and fundraiser.
Man arrested after more than $550K worth of cocaine found during traffic stop in Seguin
Read full article: Man arrested after more than $550K worth of cocaine found during traffic stop in SeguinSeguin police discovered more than 13 kilos, or just over 28 pounds, of cocaine, a large amount of cash and a gun during a traffic stop.
Nonprofit drug treatment center for low-income Texas teens shutters amid opioid crisis
Read full article: Nonprofit drug treatment center for low-income Texas teens shutters amid opioid crisisPhoenix House is the latest casualty in an escalating funding crisis for Texas treatment centers as the state struggles with startling increases in overdose deaths, particularly among young people.
Over $1.2 million worth of Fentanyl seized during traffic stop on I-10 in Guadalupe County
Read full article: Over $1.2 million worth of Fentanyl seized during traffic stop on I-10 in Guadalupe CountyAn Eagle Pass man was arrested during a traffic stop on I-10 in Guadalupe County after authorities found over $1.2 million worth of Fentanyl stashed in his pickup truck.
Harm Reduction: Is it saving lives, or helping enable addicts?
Read full article: Harm Reduction: Is it saving lives, or helping enable addicts?Drug use continues to be an issue across the country. But one of the solutions is harm reduction. It can be a controversial topic as some say it’s enabling people to use drugs, but others say it’s saving lives.
Bodycam shows first responders using Narcan to save man’s life after he swallowed heroin
Read full article: Bodycam shows first responders using Narcan to save man’s life after he swallowed heroinA routine traffic stop for Jourdanton Police Sgt. Joshua Walker turned into a life-saving event for a man who he says swallowed heroin.
Lawmakers’ attempts to tighten drug laws would saddle crime labs with an unsustainable workload
Read full article: Lawmakers’ attempts to tighten drug laws would saddle crime labs with an unsustainable workloadTexas lawmakers want tougher criminal penalties for possession of delta-8 and fentanyl. But that would mean much more work for the crime labs handling most of the drug testing for the state’s 254 counties.
Gov. Greg Abbott launches $10 million effort to combat fentanyl crisis, sends overdose-reversing meds to all 254 counties
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott launches $10 million effort to combat fentanyl crisis, sends overdose-reversing meds to all 254 countiesThe “One Pill Kills” campaign is funded with the help of a federal grant, and the statewide Narcan distribution is being paid for with funds from Texas’ settlement agreement with opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies.
BCSO holds first fentanyl awareness presentation for residents at Morgan’s Wonderland Camp
Read full article: BCSO holds first fentanyl awareness presentation for residents at Morgan’s Wonderland CampThe Bexar County Sheriff’s Department held its first fentanyl awareness presentation at Morgan’s Wonderland Camp as part of its “one pill can kill” campaign.
Bills call for Texas teachers to be trained to administer lifesaving overdose drugs to students
Read full article: Bills call for Texas teachers to be trained to administer lifesaving overdose drugs to studentsTexas is attempting to address the fentanyl crisis gripping schools by having staff learn how to administer lifesaving medication.
How an old law found new life in lawsuit seeking to revoke approval of abortion pill
Read full article: How an old law found new life in lawsuit seeking to revoke approval of abortion pillAnti-abortion advocates are trying to revive the long-dormant 1873 Comstock Act, which banned mailing of anything related to abortion or contraception, in a lawsuit about mifepristone, an abortion-inducing drug.
San Antonio woman sentenced to 8+ years in prison for meth trafficking
Read full article: San Antonio woman sentenced to 8+ years in prison for meth traffickingA 32-year-old San Antonio woman was sentenced to more than eight years in prison after she was found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.
In a Central Texas county, high schoolers are jailed on felony charges for vaping what could be legal hemp
Read full article: In a Central Texas county, high schoolers are jailed on felony charges for vaping what could be legal hempPolice often can’t tell if a cannabis vape pen is derived from marijuana or legal hemp, like the delta-8 products on display in gas stations across Texas. That doesn’t stop them from from making felony arrests in high schools.
17-year-old arrested for aggravated robbery in botched drug deal, police say
Read full article: 17-year-old arrested for aggravated robbery in botched drug deal, police sayA 17-year-old was arrested Thursday on two counts of aggravated robbery after police say he pointed a handgun at two teens during a drug deal.
Two suspects arrested in separate drug cases in Kerr County, sheriff’s office says
Read full article: Two suspects arrested in separate drug cases in Kerr County, sheriff’s office saysKerr County Sheriff’s Office arrested two suspects in separate cases involving drugs, one of which ended in a pursuit with one of the suspects.
Texas GOP lawmakers warming to opioid harm-reduction policies they once opposed
Read full article: Texas GOP lawmakers warming to opioid harm-reduction policies they once opposedGov. Greg Abbott and other Republicans have expressed support for legalizing fentanyl test strips, which help users identify whether the drugs they are planning on taking contain the deadly synthetic opioid.
Law enforcement cadets are trained on how to take illicit drugs off the street without being exposed
Read full article: Law enforcement cadets are trained on how to take illicit drugs off the street without being exposedSan Antonio Area law enforcement cadets are being trained on how to take illicit drugs off the streets without coming in contact with them and becoming ill, things like fentanyl and carfentanyl are among the deadliest and most popular on the streets.
South Side residents raise concerns amid fights, drug use, growing homeless population in neighborhood
Read full article: South Side residents raise concerns amid fights, drug use, growing homeless population in neighborhoodResidents in a South Side neighborhood say they no longer feel safe at home. Concerns are growing due to fights and drug use by a growing homeless population in their area.
Gov. Greg Abbott says state should fund distribution of medication that can reverse opioid overdose
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott says state should fund distribution of medication that can reverse opioid overdoseWhile not detailing how the distribution might be funded, Abbott said the medication, Narcan, should be distributed to law enforcement agencies as well as some hospitals and schools.
Bill to decriminalize use of fentanyl test strips and reduce deaths may be revisited in next legislative session
Read full article: Bill to decriminalize use of fentanyl test strips and reduce deaths may be revisited in next legislative sessionA state lawmaker who introduced a bill to make fentanyl test strips legal to save lives says the issue should be revisited during the upcoming legislative session.
Family’s fear of deadly fentanyl overdose confirmed by Medical Examiner’s Office
Read full article: Family’s fear of deadly fentanyl overdose confirmed by Medical Examiner’s OfficeDanica Kaprosy was found lying face down, unresponsive, on her bed last July. Her family blames her death on a fentanyl-laced pill.
Texas bans many proven tools for helping drug users. Advocates are handing them out anyway.
Read full article: Texas bans many proven tools for helping drug users. Advocates are handing them out anyway.As overdoses skyrocketed amid the pandemic and the fentanyl crisis, advocates across the state are working discreetly to distribute these supplies as part of a practice to combat substance use disorder known as harm reduction.
DEA decodes common emoji language used to discuss drugs
Read full article: DEA decodes common emoji language used to discuss drugsThe DEA is decoding common emojis used by drug dealers to discuss the drugs used. One community member who work's closely to help young addicts' find a path to recovery says sometimes there's no decoding, the drug talk is in plain sight an easy to understand.
How parents can get a free drug to reverse the effects of a fentanyl overdose
Read full article: How parents can get a free drug to reverse the effects of a fentanyl overdoseWhile treatment experts say education and prevention is key to saving lives. Governor Greg Abbott declares criminal organizations in Mexico as terrorists in a fight against fentanyl deaths.
As fentanyl plagues Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott directs state police to focus on cartels
Read full article: As fentanyl plagues Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott directs state police to focus on cartelsAbbott directed the Department of Public Safety to boost efforts to collect intelligence on cartels and investigate gangs in Texas that support drug and human smuggling.
New Overdose Task Force created in Hays County following numerous fentanyl poisoning deaths
Read full article: New Overdose Task Force created in Hays County following numerous fentanyl poisoning deathsPills that can kill -- two suspected distributors have been arrested in charged in San Marcos. Hays County authorities now warn communities in the area to be vigilant of counterfeit Percocet pills.
Texas program that gives out lifesaving drugs to combat opioid overdoses has been out of money for months
Read full article: Texas program that gives out lifesaving drugs to combat opioid overdoses has been out of money for monthsThe state’s federally funded “More Narcan Please” program ran out of money in January, in part due to high demand. Advocates say Texas should invest more in the harm reduction effort.
San Antonio community organizations help state researchers track non-fatal overdoses
Read full article: San Antonio community organizations help state researchers track non-fatal overdosesBexar County community groups help state addiction researchers get a better sense of what the overdose data shows in vulnerable communities that don't have access to health care. Members are being trained on a new database that's set to launch statewide in the fall.
More than $1 million in narcotic seizures so far this year, BCSO says
Read full article: More than $1 million in narcotic seizures so far this year, BCSO saysDrug busts continue to be a big focus for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. So far this year, more than $1 million worth of narcotics have been taken off the streets by BCSO and its partner agencies.
San Antonio seeing large amounts of fentanyl entering the community, DEA agents say
Read full article: San Antonio seeing large amounts of fentanyl entering the community, DEA agents saySan Antonio are drug agents say a deadly synthetic opioid is in our streets and many victims are falling victim to it without knowing it.
TRUST INDEX: Are federal dollars funding clean crack pipes for people with addiction?
Read full article: TRUST INDEX: Are federal dollars funding clean crack pipes for people with addiction?While some safe smoke kits do include drug pipes as a way to reduce harm, HHS issued a statement this week saying “no federal funding will be used directly or through subsequent reimbursement of grantees to put pipes in safe smoking kits.”
Drugs found, two detained after fire breaks out on Southeast Side, SAFD says
Read full article: Drugs found, two detained after fire breaks out on Southeast Side, SAFD saysTwo people are detained after an apartment fire broke out on the Southeast Side on Wednesday afternoon, according to the San Antonio Fire Department.
New recovery high school in San Antonio seeks to support youth overcoming addiction
Read full article: New recovery high school in San Antonio seeks to support youth overcoming addictionRise Inspire Academy is nearing the end of it's first official semester, and has about a dozen students in the program. It's the first of its kind in Bexar County.
Drugs, cartels, and gangs continue to be a problem in Bexar County, Sheriff Salazar says
Read full article: Drugs, cartels, and gangs continue to be a problem in Bexar County, Sheriff Salazar saysNew government research shows that record numbers of Americans died of drug overdoses across the country.
Millions of dollars headed to Bexar County to help opioid addicts get more resources
Read full article: Millions of dollars headed to Bexar County to help opioid addicts get more resourcesBexar County residents who have an opioid addiction will soon have more resources available to help them after the county approved a roughly $12 million portion of a settlement between the State of Texas and Johnson & Johnson worth more than $290 million.
Doctor raises awareness about seriousness of opioid epidemic after medical office break-in
Read full article: Doctor raises awareness about seriousness of opioid epidemic after medical office break-inAfter having his office ransacked, a San Antonio podiatrist is raising awareness about the severity of the opioid epidemic.
How much Texas gets from multistate, $26 billion opioid settlement hinges on how many local governments sign on
Read full article: How much Texas gets from multistate, $26 billion opioid settlement hinges on how many local governments sign onThe state and its political subdivisions could get up to $1.5 billion from the settlement. But some local governments are considering pursuing their own lawsuits against drug makers and distributors.
Gov. Abbott sends state troopers, National Guard to border after increase in fentanyl seizures
Read full article: Gov. Abbott sends state troopers, National Guard to border after increase in fentanyl seizuresAbbott said the increase in fentanyl seizures correlates with President Joe Biden taking office in January and implementing new border policies.
Beware of hidden drugs in some supplements purchased online
Read full article: Beware of hidden drugs in some supplements purchased onlineSAN ANTONIO – If improving your wellness was one of your new year’s resolutions, maybe you’re thinking about taking dietary supplements. Before you click the “buy” button, Consumer Reports has an important warning about potentially dangerous substances found in some supplements sold online. AdEbay responded to Consumer Reports by saying it was “reviewing the site” and would be removing the tainted products. Even if the companies take down the tainted supplements identified by the FDA, that might not solve the larger problem. This is just the latest in a string of studies that have found undeclared and potentially dangerous drugs in dietary supplements.
13 people charged for cocaine trafficking in San Antonio, according to DOJ
Read full article: 13 people charged for cocaine trafficking in San Antonio, according to DOJSAN ANTONIO – Thirteen people were charged with trafficking cocaine in the San Antonio area, according to the Western District of Texas Department of Justice. A federal grand jury charged the defendants with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, according to a news release from the department. Authorities said during the investigation they seized 25 kilograms of cocaine, 35 firearms, two silencers, a grenade, body armor and $256,000 in cash. According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly conspired since January 2020 to distribute cocaine. AdThe following defendants are charged with with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine:
Parents of San Antonio teen shot, killed speak out against gun violence
Read full article: Parents of San Antonio teen shot, killed speak out against gun violenceSan Antonio – The parents of a 14-year-old boy who was shot and killed a week before Christmas are speaking out against gun violence. Bobby Lee Carter Junior, their son, was killed alongside Robert Smith, 20, on the Northeast Side. Bobby Lee Carter Senior and Victoria Carter, his parents, said their son was a happy boy. He had a good heart and soul.”They said Bobby Lee Carter Junior suffered from ADHD, but was finding his own ways of dealing with it. Bexar County Deputies said Bobby Lee Carter Junior was trying to sell marijuana to Smith when two men approached their car, robbed them and shot them.
San Antonio man arrested again on federal drug charges had prison sentence reduced by Obama
Read full article: San Antonio man arrested again on federal drug charges had prison sentence reduced by ObamaHilario Nieto, 41, who once had his federal prison sentence commuted by President Barack Obama, was arrested, along with seven others, on federal drug trafficking charges, according to the Department of Justice. In 2004, Nieto was sentenced to 248 months in federal prison on drug charges in the Western District of Texas. Scheduled to be released in 2021, President Barack Obama commuted Nieto’s sentence in 2016. “It is truly appalling that a man whose sentence the President previously commuted chose to flout that generous gift after being released from federal prison by resuming gang-related drug dealing in the San Antonio community,” said U.S. Attorney Sofer. If convicted, the defendants are looking at anywhere between 10 years to a lifetime in prison, according to authorities.
The unexpected winner on election night? Drugs
Read full article: The unexpected winner on election night? DrugsWhile we may not know if President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden won the presidential election for a while longer, there was one clear “winner” on election night, and that was recreational drugs. States across the country have been legalizing recreational marijuana every election cycle, and 2020 was no different. Residents in New Jersey, Arizona, Montana and South Dakota all voted to legalize recreational cannabis, and South Dakota also legalized medical marijuana, along with Mississippi. South Dakota became the first state to legalize medical and recreational marijuana in the same election. For the first time in U.S. history, the state of Oregon decriminalized possession of hard drugs, as well as voted to legalize psychedelic mushrooms.
What’s Up South Texas!: Cafe serves as recovery center for those battling drug, alcohol addiction
Read full article: What’s Up South Texas!: Cafe serves as recovery center for those battling drug, alcohol addictionShe has since opened a local café called Comfort Café which helps keep the residential recovery center operating. “It is a recovery center helping families recover from their addictions,” Lopez said. “So we started in Smithsville where we have a women’s program, a men’s program, and a family program on the campus. “I help everyone at the café serving and connecting with people and letting them know we are more than just a café,” Payne said. That came with legal issues, homelessness, not knowing where my next meal is coming from.”After entering the program, Payne learned he was not alone.
SAPD: Gun found on man who ran from park police after he was caught smoking pot on River Walk
Read full article: SAPD: Gun found on man who ran from park police after he was caught smoking pot on River WalkSAN ANTONIO – An armed man is accused of trying to evade police after he was caught smoking marijuana on the River Walk Friday morning, according to the San Antonio Police Department. Officers said the incident began when a park police officer spotted the man who appeared to be smoking marijuana after 7 a.m. on the River Walk near Commerce Street. During the chase, he appeared to be reaching into his pants, possibly to grab a weapon, according to SAPD. She radioed in for help and officers caught him up on the street level of West Commerce Street near Bowie Street. Officers found a gun on him as well as a wad of cash, police said.
El Paso Customs and Border Protection officers seize 120 water bottles filled with liquid meth
Read full article: El Paso Customs and Border Protection officers seize 120 water bottles filled with liquid methEL PASO, Texas U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced Tuesday that officers working at the Ysleta port of entry in El Paso seized approximately 158 pounds of liquid methamphetamine Friday evening disguised as bottled water. These might look like ordinary water bottles, but @CBP agriculture specialists discovered they were filled with liquid meth. CBP officers selected the man for a secondary exam.The agency reported that a drug-sniffing dog alerted officers to the presence of narcotics. CBP officials said an X-ray scan of the bottled water, conducted by a CBP agriculture specialist, revealed dense liquid in the water bottles. Related: CBP officers seize 201 pounds of pork hidden in trucks engine at Laredo Port of Entry
Whats Up South Texas!: Former drug addict, alcoholic chef serves needy through signature food
Read full article: Whats Up South Texas!: Former drug addict, alcoholic chef serves needy through signature foodSan Antonio A San Antonio chef is using his passion for food to serve the needy in our community. This call to action was motivated by his own experience of being a former drug addict, alcoholic and nearly homeless. Starting off as a young man, life for John Meyer, owner of Best Little Food House in Texas, seemed great. He started his own food truck service called the Best Little Food House in Texas where he cooks his signature gourmet meals for those in need. I gave it all to God, Meyer said.
Woman sentenced for smuggling black tar heroin in toys at San Antonio International Airport
Read full article: Woman sentenced for smuggling black tar heroin in toys at San Antonio International AirportSAN ANTONIO A woman was handed a 70-month sentence in federal prison for smuggling black tar heroin in plastic toys during a flight to San Antonio. A federal judge handed down the sentence to Angelica Reyes-Vasques, 28, on Tuesday, according to a news release from the Department of Justice. According to the DOJ, Reyes-Vasques flew from Mexico City to the San Antonio International Airport on Oct. 26, 2019. Reyes-Vasques was questioned twice and officers checked her luggage, where they found about 5.4 kilograms of black tar heroin concealed in three plastic toys, the DOJ states. Read also: Man sexually assaulted, impregnated 14-year-old relative, San Antonio police say
What’s Up South Texas!: Bartender shares history of alcohol abuse to inspire others
Read full article: What’s Up South Texas!: Bartender shares history of alcohol abuse to inspire othersCrystal Sanders with TouchTunes Bartender of the Year award (Courtesy Crystal Sanders) (KSAT)Crystal Sanders, 40, is not only a bartender at Brewer's Grill, but she is a direct care specialist at ALPHA Home. Crystal Sanders as a child (Courtesy Crystal Sanders) (KSAT)"Things like that change you," Sanders said. AdSanders stopped drinking alcohol but it was a scary experience starting off. Crystal Sanders with her children (Courtesy Crystal Sanders) (KSAT)Crystal Sanders with her son (Courtesy Crystal Sanders) (KSAT)"For the longest time, my oldest sons didn't speak to me but they allowed me to stalk them on social media," Sanders said. “You either struggle to stay clean or fight to stay high every day,” Sanders said.