Title
City of Phoenix Naloxone Program Update: March 2025 to May 2025
Description
This report serves as an update for the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee, outlining the progress of the City of Phoenix Naloxone Program second year implementation reporting for March through May 2025.
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 prevention of overdose deaths and other harms.
In 2024, Fire/Emergency Medical Services responded to approximately 4,258 suspected opioid overdoses in the City of Phoenix, a decrease from the year prior. In addition, the City of Phoenix accounts for majority of fatal overdoses within Maricopa County, most involving opioids. Naloxone, commonly known as the brand name Narcan(r) is a type of medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone is an evidence-based and nationally recognized strategy to prevent opioid overdose deaths, highlighted by the Center for Disease Control as one of the top 10 actions communities can take to prevent overdose fatalities.
The City of Phoenix Naloxone Program is in its second year and includes training on opioid overdose and the use of naloxone through the following distribution methods:
Administration: Employees and non-employee volunteers elect to carry naloxone or have quick access to naloxone for overdose response. Participants are trained and can administer naloxone to someone experiencing an overdose.
Take-Home: Residents are provided a free naloxone kit through participating City of Phoenix departments via direct outreach or through physical City locations.
Naloxone Distribution
Naloxone Kits made available through the City of Phoenix Naloxone Program include: two doses (4mg) of naloxone nasal spray, one pair of nitrile gloves, and instructional pamphlets in English and Spanish. This quarter, the Phoenix Naloxone Program has distributed 2,381 kits. The following City departments continue to support and participate in the Naloxone Program.
Administration
Aviation
Human Resources
Office of Homeless Solutions
Municipal Court
Parks and Recreation
Take-Home and Administration
Library Services
Housing
Neighborhood Services
Victim Services, Human Services Department
Office of Heat Response and Mitigation
Community Assistance Program
Workforce Development, Human Services Department
Senior Services, Human Services Department
Head Start, Human Services Department
Family Service Centers, Human Services Department
Financial Impact
The Naloxone Program is funded through the City's One Arizona Settlement dollars. Naloxone is an approved abatement strategy and allowable expense under this agreement.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Office of Public Health.