Photo By Staff Sgt. Asiah Phillips | Texas Joint Counterdrug Task Force Coordinator, Lt. Col. Robert Anspaugh, visits...... read more read more
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Joint Counterdrug Task Force conducted a Drug Demand Reduction Outreach event September 9, 2025 at the University of Texas, meeting with members of the Texas Alpha Nu fraternity to discuss fentanyl awareness and emergency medical response.
Lt. Col. Robert J. Anspaugh, the task force’s coordinator, led the program alongside Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kevin Hager and Chief Master Sgt. Ruben Hernandez. The event, held at the fraternity’s house near campus, drew 41 participants.
“Texas Alpha Nu invited the Texas Joint Counterdrug Task Force to speak to their fraternity because they recognize the increased danger fentanyl poses to college students and want to be prepared to administer aid in the case of an encounter,” said Anspaugh.
The outreach session centered on the dangers of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid linked to poisonings across the United States. Task force leaders explained how fentanyl is commonly disguised in counterfeit pills or mixed with other substances, increasing the risk of accidental poisoning.
Students were briefed on how to recognize the symptoms of fentanyl exposure, including loss of consciousness, slowed breathing, and unresponsiveness.
The engagement was designed to equip students with practical knowledge they could use to make more informed decisions in high-risk situations. Hager and Hernandez assisted in leading interactive portions of the class, ensuring participants had an opportunity to ask questions for clarity and understanding.
“The experience was valuable and brought necessary awareness and information,” said Mason Muller, Alpha Nu’s New Member Educator. “Especially for [students] that are new to college life and being exposed to so much all at once for the first time.”
Through support of federal, state and local partners, Texas Joint Counterdrug Task Force Drug Demand Outreach program regularly conducts community events with schools, universities, and community organizations to deliver substance abuse education and awareness programs. These initiatives are part of the task force’s broader mission to provide innovative and militarily unique skills that address the ever growing threat of substance abuse and misuse facing Texans, particularly by fentanyl.
The University of Texas event is part of an ongoing effort by the task force to connect with young adults, a group identified as particularly vulnerable to the risks of fentanyl and other illicit substances. Students attending the fraternity-hosted session were encouraged to share the information with their peers and seek additional substance abuse education opportunities offered on campus and in the community.
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2025 15:19 |
| Story ID: | 549569 |
| Location: | TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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