AUSTIN, Texas -- The Attorney General's Office launched a new website Tuesday in an effort to combat the opioid crisis and teach Texans about the dangers of drug misuse.
- Texas Attorney General's Office launches new website
- Goal is to combat opioid crisis
- Website known as 'Dose of Reality'
The new website, Doseofreality.texas.gov, allows users to learn about risk factors, treatment centers and includes an interactive map of official locations to dispose of unwanted drugs.
“The misuse of prescription opioids costs lives and devastates Texas families in every corner of our state,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Michael Dadashi knows the dangers of the drugs. Today, he owns an addiction facility, but nine years ago, he was the addict.
"Alcohol immediately filled the void, and then from there, I went searching for different drugs and different substances that would get me drunk or high and that's how I found prescription opioids," said Dadashi.
He found the addictive pills in a medicine cabinet.
"And then it's like a classic story, you know, I was out of control, physically addicted," he said.
Dadashi isn't alone. Hundreds of Texans get addicted to painkillers each year. In 2016, nearly 1400 people died of opioid-related deaths in the state.
"Many of you are familiar with the feeling that I've had looking someone in the eye that I knew that lost a son at 23," said Paxton.
Paxton pledged that his office will continue to do all it can to protect Texans against the opioid crisis.
Dose of Reality was first established in September 2015 in Wisconsin and has expanded to Texas, Arkansas, Georgia, Maine, Minnesota and Nebraska.
This initiative was done in partnership with the Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Health and Human Services.