The opioid epidemic that has swept the nation is rearing its head in Austin, and city lawmakers Thursday took their first steps to address it. The city manager will begin laying out a strategy for the city government to intervene in what Austin Mayor Steve Adler called a rapidly evolving public health emergency. Strategies will range from funding programs to forming partnerships with local substance abuse help foundations. Since 2006, Travis County has seen 1,398 overdose deaths, 590 of which are attributed to opioids, according to city data. The local growth in the opioid crisis has been acutely felt by the music industry, which has seen three overdose deaths since Christmas 2017, says Heather Alden, executive director of the SIMS Foundation, a local substance abuse organization that assists musicians. The foundation is named for Sims Ellison, a local musician who committed suicide in 1995. The number of SIMS clients seeking help with opioid abuse grew three-fold between 2016 and 2017. According to numbers provided by Alden, SIMS took on 10 opioid-related cases in 2016. In 2017, that number grew to 34. Alden said the growth in opioid cases was unanticipated in the foundation’s budget and has limited its resources in adequately addressing the issue. She said she hopes a potential partnership with the city will provide more funding and resources. At a press conference on Thursday, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, a co-sponsor of the resolution, said Austin’s situation is not at the level of some U.S. cities, but called the year-over-year growth concerning. Adler stressed the importance of getting ahead of the issue before it evolves into a greater crisis. As the city begins drafting next year’s budget, Adler said he would support funding programs that address the issue.