Title
Phoenix Substance Use and Overdose Dashboard
Description
This report provides an update for the Public Safety and Justice subcommittee on the development and launch of the Phoenix Substance Use and Overdose Dashboard (PSUOD).
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
Report
Summary
In August of 2021, the City of Phoenix joined cities, towns, and counties across Arizona in signing the One Arizona Opioid Settlement Memorandum of Understanding (“One Arizona MOU”). The One Arizona MOU outlines the distribution of the estimated $542 million dollars that Arizona will receive over 18 years. Within this spending framework, 56 percent of the total settlement will be disbursed to local governments and the remaining 44 percent will remain with the State (administered by the Attorney General’s Office). The City of Phoenix receives 21.28 percent of the funding received by Maricopa County, dispersed annually.
Under the One Arizona MOU, funds must be used for future opioid abatement strategies that are nationally recognized. Approved uses include evidence-based, evidence-informed strategies addressing:
- Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
- Support for people in treatment and recovery
- Support for people who have or are at risk of developing OUD
- Prevention of overdose deaths and other harms
- Prevention of opioid misuse
In March of 2023, the Public Health staff presented to the Community and Cultural Investment (CCI) Subcommittee, outlining activities and actions to be taken as part of the City’s opioid response planning, including the development a dashboard to improve opioid-related surveillance.
Phoenix Substance Use and Overdose Dashboard (PSUOD)
In collaboration with Phoenix Police Department, Phoenix Fire and Information Technology Services, the Public Health staff led the development of the first Phoenix Substance Use and Overdose Dashboard (PSUOD). The PSUOD will support the ability of the City to monitor substance use and overdose trends in Phoenix, increase public awareness of opioid and substance related harms in Phoenix and support local agencies and partners in their planning and funding requests.
PSUOD Phase One
The first phase of the PSUOD will officially launch May 8, 2024. Phase One includes aggregate data on:
- Suspected opioid overdoses for 2022, 2023, and 2024 year-to-date as reported through Phoenix Fire Electronic Patient Care Record (EPCR).
- Fatal overdose data for 2021 and 2022 received by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) using data provided by the Office of the Medical Examiner (OME) Cause-of-Death Toxicology (CODT).
- Naloxone distributed by the City for 2023 and 2024 as reported by the Office of Public Health for the City’s naloxone program.
- Naloxone administered prior to EMS arrival for 2022, 2023, and 2024 as reported through Phoenix Fire EPCR.
Data at the individual level will not be reported on the dashboard and counts less than five (<5) will be suppressed to ensure individual privacy.
2022 Data Summary
Suspected Opioid Overdoses
In 2022, there were 4,079 suspected opioid overdoses with an average of 340 per month with July experiencing the highest number of overdoses that year. Suspected overdoses most often occurred in private residences (45 percent) and on streets/roadways (32 percent). Suspected opioid overdoses were highest among males (70 percent) and individuals ages 25 to 34 (29 percent). People experiencing homelessness accounted for 26 percent of suspected opioid overdose compared to 74 percent of housed individuals. Out of the 51 percent of patients where prior naloxone administration was known, only 13 percent of people experiencing a suspected opioid overdose received naloxone prior to EMS arrival.
Fatal Overdoses
There were a total of 1,023 fatal overdoses in 2022 with an average of 84 fatal overdoses per month with July having the highest number of deaths. Fatal overdoses were highest among males (78 percent) and persons ages 35-44 (25 percent). People experiencing homelessness accounted for 29 percent of fatal overdoses compared to 71 percent among individuals identified as housed. Fentanyl (66.6 percent) and Methamphetamine (58.7 percent) were drugs mostly commonly involved in fatal overdoses.
2023 Data Summary
Suspected Opioid Overdoses
In 2023, there were 4,554 suspected opioid overdoses with an average of 377 per month, with July experiencing the highest number of suspected opioid overdoses. Suspected overdoses most often occurred in private residences (39 percent) and on streets/roadways (36 percent). Suspected opioid overdoses were highest among males (71 percent) and individuals ages 25 to 34 (30 percent). People experiencing homelessness accounted for 31 percent of suspected opioid overdose compared to 69 percent of housed individuals. Out of the 50 percent of patients where prior naloxone administration was known, only 15 percent of people experiencing a suspected opioid overdose received naloxone prior to EMS arrival.
In 2023, 5,988 naloxone kits were distributed through the City of Phoenix Naloxone program, the majority (5,699) of which went to the community through City programs and services.
Fatal overdose data for 2023 is not yet available.
Definitions
Suspected Opioid Overdose includes any case reported through Phoenix Fire Electronic Patient Care Record (EPCR) where the patient had symptoms of an overdose and/or where naloxone was administered, and the patient showed signs of improvement or response.
Fatal Overdose includes overdoses confirmed through cause-of-death toxicology by the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner (OME).
Naloxone is a medication that reverses an opioid overdose and can restore breathing. Naloxone data includes reporting on naloxone administration through EPCR and naloxone distribution through the city-wide naloxone program as reported by the Office of Public Health.
The following indicators are reported on the dashboard:
- Suspected opioid overdose by month, year
- Suspected opioid overdose by top 5 response locations per year
- Suspected opioid overdose by year for age, sex, housing status
- Naloxone administration prior to EMS arrival year-to-date
- Naloxone distributed per year, month
- Naloxone distributed by zip code
- Fatal overdose by year, month
- Fatal overdose by age, sex, housing status, zip code
- Fatal overdose by drug type
Next Steps
The Phoenix Substance Use and Overdose Dashboard will be continually updated and monitored. Phase Two of the dashboard will include the development of an overdose monitoring and alert system. Collectively with Phoenix Fire, Phoenix Police Department and other system partners, the Office of Public Health will utilize localized data to assist in informing interventions and evaluation of efforts.
Financial Impact
The funding associated with this work will come from the Opioid Settlement dollars as part of the One Arizona Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). As of April 1, 2024, the City has received $5,479,871.20 as part of its installments of funding from the Distributer settlement, Janssen settlement and Mallinckrodt Bankruptcy covering years 2021 to the present. It is anticipated the City will receive additional settlements; the total amount is unknown at this time.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Office of Public Health.