Title
Annual Naloxone Program Report and Update - Citywide
Description
This report provides the Community Services and Education Subcommittee an overview of the results of the third annual evaluation of the City of Phoenix Naloxone Program.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
Report
Summary
The City of Phoenix Naloxone Program makes the life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses available to community members and staff. The goal of the program is to reduce overdose fatalities by increasing access to naloxone, knowledge of overdose signs and symptoms, and self-efficacy to respond. This report shares findings from the third annual evaluation of the Naloxone Program, which spanned from August 2025 to July 2026.
In the third year of the Naloxone Program, 18,586 Naloxone Overdose Reversal Kits were distributed. This represents a 27 percent increase from the year prior, and a 75 percent increase compared to the program’s first year. A total of 15 different City Departments and Offices participated in the Naloxone Program by either providing kits to staff or hosting distribution sites where community members can acquire kits at no cost. Nine City facilities were added as distribution sites this year, making a total of 58 locations that provide Naloxone Overdose Reversal Kits across the City. The vast majority of kits were distributed this year through sites hosted at City facilities. In total, 43,867 kits have been distributed since the Naloxone Program launched in August of 2023.
The Departments that distributed the greatest number of Naloxone Overdose Reversal Kits were:
- Phoenix Public Library: 11,925
- Human Services Department: 3,916
- Office of Homeless Solutions: 1,161
Notably, the Office of Homeless Solutions' participation in the program represents a critical pathway to get naloxone to people who may be at risk of witnessing or experiencing an overdose. Office of Homeless Solutions' sites are also the first in the City of Phoenix to offer distribution of naloxone boxes from standalone purple displays known as Barneys. Over 2,500 boxes of naloxone have been distributed through the Barneys to people experiencing homelessness.
Community Impact
The greatest overall reach in the program's third year resulted in an increase in Naloxone Overdose Reversal Kit distribution among all City Council Districts compared to the year prior. Overall, distribution remained highest within District 3, District 7 and District 8, while the greatest increases were among District 2, District 4, District 7 and District 8. This indicates that while the top districts remain aligned with historical trends, much headway has been made in increasing distribution in others. Likewise, while District 2 and District 4 had more suspected overdoses compared to kits distributed, as was observed last year, this gap has been reduced significantly. Increased naloxone saturation within the community can reduce overdose-related health complications and loss of life by equipping the public to immediately reverse the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose.
Naloxone administration prior to EMS arrival is an important way to measure program effectiveness, illustrating whether community members have naloxone on hand, know the signs of overdose, and are willing and able to use naloxone. Compared to the year prior to program implementation, the proportion of cases where naloxone was administered prior to EMS arrival rose from 6.8 percent to 13.1 percent and continue to rise year-over-year. Particularly, in February 2026, naloxone was administered prior to EMS arrival in 17 percent of suspected opioid overdose calls, the highest proportion ever recorded.
Employee Outcomes and Training
In program year three, there were 15 incidents of staff voluntarily uses of naloxone that were reported to the Office of Public Health by the Offices and Departments that participate in the program. Of these, eight reports were from Phoenix Public Library, six were from the Office of Homeless Solutions, and one was from the Community Assistance Program. Among all reports where details were given, the individual survived the overdose after naloxone was administered.
City of Phoenix employees have access to voluntary virtual training through PHXYou and are encouraged to complete training every year. Since the program started, over 3,600 employees have completed the training. The Office of Public Health has designed an in-person training that is currently being implemented with City field operation departments including the Streets and Public Works departments.
Cost
In the past two years direct costs of the program totaled about $75,000, encompassing supplies and promotional materials. All naloxone is provided in-kind through a partnership with the Arizona Department of Health Services. The value of naloxone acquired through this partnership over the past two years totaled nearly $1.3 million. Other in-kind donations include nitrile gloves and volunteer labor. The City’s direct supply costs averaged about $2.25 per kit, a remarkably low per-unit investment. In contrast, the cost of a two-dose box of naloxone available for purchase over the counter at pharmacies is about $45. Overall, the Naloxone Program provides a way for community members in need to acquire naloxone at no cost.
Next Steps
Future growth of the program includes launching and promoting a new virtual training series for employees, focusing on volunteer recruitment continuing to reach underserved and high-burden communities, and exploring the opportunity to establish distribution sites through community partners to strengthen reach. The Office of Public Health remains committed to using data to inform decision-making and exploring ways that data can be used innovatively. Likewise, the Naloxone Program is just one part of the overall substance use response framework employed by the City of Phoenix to prevent substance use, provide pathways to treatment, address critical co-factors and save lives. The Office of Public Health continues to collaborate with fellow departments to create interventions that tackle all facets of substance use in ways that will best serve our community.
Financial Impact
There is no impact to the General Fund. The Naloxone Program is wholly funded through the One Arizona Agreement Opioid Settlement funds received by the City of Phoenix.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Human Services Department.