Overdose deaths San Antonio 2026
Overdose deaths in San Antonio reached 4,372 in 12 months to May 2026 amounting to 6 percent fewer than the prior period's 4,640, according to CDC provisional counts. The figures below come from CDC and SAMHSA data.
- fatal overdoses in 12 months
- 4,372
- change from the prior year
- -6%
- sites offering naloxone training
- 25
If you live in San Antonio and you are trying to make sense of the overdose numbers, you are probably holding two things at once: a public trend and a private worry. This page lays out the most recent local figures from the CDC and pairs them with the treatment capacity listed in SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov. It does not diagnose anyone and it does not promise an outcome. It gives you a clearer picture of what is happening, what it might mean for you or someone you care about, and where to ask questions without pressure.
Overdose Deaths San Antonio data lags by months and counts deaths, not people in need of care
The count covers a full year, so it cannot tell you what is happening on your block this week. What it can do is show direction. In this case, the direction is down for most substances. That does not make any single death less significant. It does suggest that treatment, harm reduction, and access to care are part of the story, and that asking for help is a reasonable step rather than a last resort.
What the numbers say about care
For someone deciding about treatment, the overdose figures are a backdrop, not a verdict. The more useful local number may be 31: that is how many treatment facilities are listed in the San Antonio area in SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov, the federal directory. Those listings include 28 outpatient programs, 14 intensive outpatient programs, 9 detox programs, 8 residential programs, and 4 hospital-based programs. A facility being listed does not guarantee admission, insurance coverage, or a particular outcome. It does mean there are places to call and questions to ask.
If cost worries you, ask about Medicaid and private insurance; Texas Medicaid covers some substance use treatment, and federal parity law applies to many private plans
The listings also show 22 facilities offering buprenorphine, 7 offering methadone, 15 offering naltrexone, and 11 offering medications for alcohol use disorder. Those are the kinds of details worth asking about directly. A suboxone clinic in San Antonio may be listed as offering buprenorphine; the listing does not tell you whether they can see you this week or what they charge. That is why a phone call or a helpline conversation can save time.
Naloxone is another practical point. There are 25 naloxone programs listed in the area. Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose, but it does not treat a substance use disorder and does not replace emergency care. If you are with someone who may be overdosing, call 911. If you use opioids or know someone who does, carrying naloxone is a concrete step that does not require a diagnosis or a commitment to treatment.
If you are comparing rehab centers in San Antonio, then ask about level of care, medication options, and whether the program is licensed or accredited
Organizations like The Joint Commission and CARF accredit or certify programs, so it is fair to ask whether a program is accredited, and the answer can help you compare. This site does not provide treatment. Trained advisors connected to state-licensed providers staff the helpline. Nothing is expected of you, calls are free, and what you share stays private. If calling does not feel right yet, you can use the SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov directory for your own search.
Overdose deaths by drug in San Antonio
Opioids accounted for 1,830 deaths in the 12-month period ending May 2026, down 10 percent from 2,035. Fentanyl was involved in 1,281 of those opioid deaths, a 15 percent drop from 1,512. Methamphetamine was involved in 1,809 deaths, down 10 percent from 2,008. Cocaine was involved in 1,388 deaths, essentially flat from 1,392. Prescription opioids were involved in 446 deaths, down 5 percent from 470, and heroin in 193, down 20 percent from 240. When you are comparing rehabs in San Antonio, then ask about medications for opioid use disorder, because 1,830 opioid deaths is still the largest category These categories overlap: a single death can involve more than one substance, so the drug-specific counts do not add up to the all-drug total. That is normal in overdose reporting. It also matters when you read headlines. A death counted under fentanyl may also be counted under methamphetamine. The categories help you understand which substances are most often present, but they are not separate populations. If you are looking for a treatment center in San Antonio, the drug-specific figures are a useful prompt for questions. Ask whether the program screens for multiple substances, whether it offers medications for alcohol or opioid use disorder when appropriate, and whether it can coordinate care for someone with more than one substance involved. Those are practical questions, not judgments. For anyone looking at drug rehabs in San Antonio, then the fentanyl and methamphetamine figures suggest asking about withdrawal supervision and ongoing outpatient support The CDC data on this page contain no local alcohol count, so we do not provide one. Still, alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous and sometimes life-threatening. Clinical supervision should guide it, and the same applies to benzodiazepines. If someone drinks heavily or takes benzodiazepines daily and wants to stop, supervised detox or a medical evaluation is safer than quitting on their own.
| Drug | Past year | Prior year | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total drug overdose fatalities | 4,372 | 4,640 | -6% |
| Opioid-related overdoses | 1,830 | 2,035 | -10% |
| Fentanyl and synthetic opioids | 1,281 | 1,512 | -15% |
| Heroin | 193 | 240 | -20% |
| Prescription opioid medications | 446 | 470 | -5% |
| Methamphetamine-related deaths | 1,809 | 2,008 | -10% |
| Cocaine-related deaths | 1,388 | 1,392 | 0% |
CDC provisional figures, 12 months ending May 2026. Recent months may increase as more reports arrive.
Alcohol use and mental health in San Antonio
Percentage of adults in San Antonio versus Texas, per the CDC's PLACES estimates (2023).
| Metric | San Antonio | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Binge alcohol use | 16.0% | 17.0% |
| Frequent mental distress rate | 17.2% | 17.3% |
| Depression | 22.4% | 21.5% |
| Current smoking rate | 13.0% | 12.7% |
| Uninsured adults (ages 18-64) | 24.5% | 20.6% |
Source: CDC PLACES, unadjusted adult prevalence; state value adjusted by population across the places shown.
How San Antonio overdose deaths trend
Across the 12 months ending May 2026, San Antonio recorded 4,372 overdose deaths, a 6 percent decline from 4,640 in the prior 12-month period. That is a drop of 268 deaths, according to CDC NCHS provisional counts. One year of decline is not a reason to relax, but it is a reason to keep paying attention to what is working.
If you are looking at rehab in San Antonio and the numbers feel discouraging, then look at the local treatment options as well
A decline in deaths can reflect several things at once: more people getting into treatment, wider availability of naloxone, changes in the drug supply, or a mix of all three. The CDC data does not explain why. What it does show is that the trend can move. For a family deciding whether to look into addiction treatment in San Antonio, that is worth keeping in view.
It is also worth saying plainly that the local figure is still thousands of deaths. For someone weighing whether to call a helpline or check on a friend, the number is not abstract. It is the reason the questions below focus on practical next steps rather than on the size of the problem alone.
- past year
- 4,372
- preceding 12 months
- 4,640
Questions
What are the major drug problems in San Antonio?
In the newest local data, opioids account for the biggest share: 1,830 overdose deaths in the 12 months through May 2026, and fentanyl was involved in 1,281 of those. Methamphetamine appeared in 1,809 deaths, cocaine in 1,388. These groups overlap, since a single death can involve more than one substance. When you look for help, ask a program how it screens for several substances and what medications it provides.
How do people afford to go to rehab in San Antonio?
Start with the coverage you already have. Texas Medicaid covers some substance use treatment, and under the federal parity law many private addiction care and behavioral health must be covered by plans. The SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov directory lists 31 facilities in the San Antonio area, a few of which offer sliding-scale fees. A free helpline can help you weigh options, though it cannot promise that anything will be covered. Before committing, ask each program directly what it charges.
How long do you stay in inpatient rehab?
No single length fits everyone. The right duration depends on the substance, your health, your home situation, and your insurance coverage. SAMHSA listings for the area include 8 residential programs and 9 detox programs in the San Antonio area, and each sets its own schedule. When you call, ask how long a program usually lasts, what aftercare it includes, and whether outpatient care follows. This site does not offer treatment or decide placement.
Where can I find affordable therapy in San Antonio if I do not have health insurance?
A sensible place to start is the SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov directory, which lists 31 facilities in the San Antonio area, 28 of them outpatient programs. Certain programs use sliding-scale fees, and 25 naloxone programs are listed in the area. A helpline that costs nothing and keeps calls private can help you sort through the options. Reaching out commits you to nothing. Ask every program about pricing, wait times, and whether they prescribe medications for opioid or alcohol use disorder.
How many overdose deaths were there in San Antonio in 2026?
In the 12 months ending May 2026, there were 4,372 overdose deaths in San Antonio, according to CDC NCHS provisional counts. That was a 6 percent decrease from 4,640 in the prior 12-month period, a drop of 268 deaths. Opioids were involved in 1,830 of these deaths, with fentanyl involved in 1,281. These are provisional figures and may be revised.