Presentation Opioid Response Program

OPIOID RESPONSE PROGRAM
Program Results and Request for Expansion
February 26 , 2026
1

2024
OPIOID FUND WORK SESSION
Received Direction and Program Vision
2024
MSW RECRUITMENT
Hired Program Lead
Created Agreement for College Intern 
2024/25
RESPONSE PROTOCOL & RESOURCE 
ALLOCATION
Created Deployment Model
Partnered with AZDHS to Acquire Narcan
2025
CREATED RELATIONSHIPS WITH 
TREATMENT FACILITIES & HOSPITAL
 13 Treatment Facility Agreements 
ER Discharge Follow Up CRH / MG 
2025
DEPLOYED OPIOID RESPONSE UNIT (ORU)
Embedded ORU in 911 System
Started Educational Outreach & Follow Up
2026
PROGRAM ASSESSMENT & DATA REVIEW 
Evaluate Annual Data Points
Clinical Outcomes
ORU PROGRAM
TIMELINE
2

OPIOID RESPONSE DEPLOYMENT MODEL
After Hours Coverage from CR Unit
Scope of Practice: Opioids
Staffed with 1 FTE and 1 Intern
Operational M-F 8am-5pm
Deployed from FDHQ
Backup Crisis Response
3

EDUCATION
Prevention, Identification, and 
Treatment Education
NAVIGATION
Navigation Assistance for 
Treatment Facilities and 
Insurance
 PREVENTION
Narcan Distribution and 
Training 
911 RESPONSE
911 Response to All Overdose 
Incidents
FOUR CORE SERVICES
4

Dispatched to all overdose incidents 
regardless of suspected substance
Dispatched to all incidents of suspected 
opioid abuse
Dispatched to any incident where an 
assessment or education is appropriate
RESPONSE
ON SCENE ASSESSMENT, NAVIGATION, EDUCATION
5

TREATMENT FACILITY & 
INSURANCE NAVIGATION
Partnership with 13 
local facilities for 
24/7 access to beds
Treatment
Benefit evaluation 
and service provider 
identification
Insurance
Packing and 
transportation from 
front door to back 
door
Transportation
In-home assessment 
and screening
Intake
6

OVERDOSE DEATH PREVENTION
Narcan Distribution
Narcan distribution at public 
and private events including 
resident requests
Narcan Education
Administration, education, and 
signs and symptoms of opioid 
overdose
7

EDUCATION
Fire Station Open House, 
Senior Expo, Airport Day, 
Public Safety Day
Public Events
Dangers of prescription 
medications
School Education
Block Parties, HOA 
Meetings, Health Events
Neighborhoods 
8

2025 ORU PROGRAM DATA
Total number of responses to 
overdose incidents and 
suspected abuse
RESPONSE
Total number of follow ups with 
911 patients and crew referrals
NAVIGATION
Total number of Narcan kits 
distributed throughout Chandler
PREVENTION
Total number of education events 
to include public events, business 
requests, and follow ups
EDUCATION
159
108
1,292
67
9

OPIOID-RELATED INCIDENTS
State
County
Chandler
2023
6,011
4,095
455
2024
5,701
3,910
370
2025
6,246
4,573
371
OPIOID-RELATED DEATHS
State
County
Chandler
2023
1,928
1,218
34
2024
1,651
1,072
38
2025
1,873
1,246
36
9.6%
17%
0.27%
13.4%
16.2%
-5.3%
OPIOID DATA: MEASURING PROGRESS
% Change from 
2024-2025
% Change from 
2024-2025
10

OPIOID INCIDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
70%
30%
11

12

Creates a clear 
pathway to 
permanent, 
independent housing
Builds accountability 
and support
Provides safe, 
substance-free 
housing where people 
can rebuild their lives, 
strengthen their 
recovery foundation, 
and develop the skills 
necessary for long-
term sobriety and self-
sufficiency.
Removes a leading 
trigger for relapse
Reduces overdose 
risk during the 
highest vulnerability 
window
Decreases reliance 
on ERs, shelters, and 
justice system 
Reduces returns to 
homelessness
SOBER LIVING SERVICES
Provides connections 
to services and 
support systems
Builds employment, 
life skills, and 
financial stability
13

SOBER LIVING PROGRAM DATA
Up to 90 days of financial support
•
Case management and employment 
resources
•
Assistance with transition to permanency
•
City Provides:
115 persons served: 90 men and 25 
women
•
78% (90) had zero income at entry
•
71% (82) did not return to homelessness in 
Maricopa County
•
FY 2024/25 Highlights
22%
78%
14

SOBER LIVING PROGRAM DATA
50%
24%
13%
9%
2% 2%
26%
17%
27%
16%
9%
5%
15

PROPOSED EXPANSION OF ORU
STAFFING
STAFFING
OPERATIONS
OPERATIONS
SCOPE
SCOPE
1 FTE & 1 Intern
2 FTEs & 2 Interns
M-F 8am-5pm
M-SU 8am-7pm
Opioid Incidents
All Overdoses
CURRENT
PROPOSED
16

LONG TERM FUNDING STABILITY
With Program Extension
$2.8
MILLION
Unspent funds ready to 
deploy
Available in July 2026
$8.5
MILLION
Total projected settlement 
revenue
Through 2039
$2.3M balance funds 
expanded program 
for 4+ years without 
additional revenue
With projected 
funding, balance 
remains above 
$1.0M through 2038  
$635K estimated 
ending balance in 
2039 assuming no 
additional funding
$635K
$1.0M
$2.3M
17

RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve Funding
Authorize additional funding 
for (1) FTE, (1) PD Vehicle, 
and funding for sober living
Authorize FTE
Approve the recruitment and 
hiring of (1) Crisis 
Interventionist and (1) Intern
Expand Scope
Expand response scope to 
include all overdoses 
outside of opioids
Implement Plan
Recruit and hire new FTE and 
Intern, create policy for 
expanded scope, deploy 
resources
 1
 2
 3
 4
18

QUESTIONS?
19