Tempe cares about our community. If you or someone you care about need support to overcome substance use and addiction, this resource page is designed to answer some of your questions and help make connections to begin the healing process. 

If you need help determining what treatments and services would be best, CARE 7 engages people at the point of crisis in their lives and continues to support them with assistance and referral through the continuum of healing and recovery. Representatives of CARE 7 can help you determine which resources will help you or those you care about.

For assistance, call CARE 7 at 480-350-8004 or email care7referrals@tempe.gov. 

The Tempe Opioid Response Plan FY 2024-25 outlines the various opioid programs and activities already underway, funded by federal grants and other state and local sources. It also serves as a guide for new programming to be implemented in FY 24-25, funded by the One Arizona Distribution of Opioid Settlement Funds Agreement (“One Arizona Agreement”). Input from city departments, community-based organizations, education partners, and individuals with lived experience helped identify areas in the continuum of services that need enhancement to best serve the community. The plan also presents data on local opioid trends, which will be continuously monitored throughout FY 24-25 to ensure that Tempe is responsive to emerging trends and needs, and to inform future plans.

Tempe’s Opioid Response Plan is advanced by Opioid Crisis – Tempe Innovative Solutions (OCTIS). This multidisciplinary task force collaborates internally and alongside external partners and residents to utilize data and implement evidence-based strategies to end opioid misuse. The OCTIS Leadership team provides strategic guidance and is comprised of representatives from the City Manager’s Office, Community Health and Human Services Department, Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department, Tempe Police Department, Strategic Management and Innovation Office, Information Technology Department, Tempe Community Council, and Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

Opioids and Wastewater  
In 2018, seeking innovative strategies, Tempe, in partnership with Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute, was the first city in the United States to incorporate wastewater data with other population health data to make strategic and operational decisions about the opioid public health crisis.   

This data, alongside other authoritative data, informs educational and service programs to make progress towards Tempe's goal to achieve an end to opioid misuse and abuse as measured by the percentage of “opioid abuse probable” Emergency Medical Services Calls (Performance Measure 1.31).

Tempe’s Wastewater BioIntel Program tests wastewater for the presence of seven opioid-related analytes.

Opioid Resource Map
Learn about the impact opioid abuse has regionally, how to help prevent addiction and how to treat it on this map-based webpage. Get answers to question such as: How do I know if the drug I've been prescribed is an opioid? Where can I drop off unneeded prescription drugs? Where are treatment centers?  

EMS Calls Dashboard
Tempe Fire Medical Rescue responds to medical calls that may be a result of opioid overdose. The City of Tempe uses this data and map to determine where prevention resources are best allocated and to help prepare for calls. The map can indicate when and where it is more likely that overdose calls might happen.

In 2018, seeking innovative strategies, Tempe, in partnership with Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute, was the first city in the United States to incorporate wastewater data with other population health data to make strategic and operational decisions about the opioid public health crisis.   

This data, alongside other authoritative data, informs educational and service programs to make progress towards Tempe's goal to achieve an end to opioid misuse and abuse as measured by the percentage of “opioid abuse probable” Emergency Medical Services Calls (Performance Measure 1.31).

Tempe’s Wastewater BioIntel Program tests wastewater for the presence of seven opioid-related analytes. Take a look at the dashboard

Information on all aspects of Tempe's Wastewater BioIntel Program may be found at tempe.gov/wastewater.

The Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department has seen an increase in opioid-related emergencies since 2017. During that same time, the amount of Narcan (the opioid overdose reversing medication) has increased to almost double the amount required to reverse an opioid overdose. This is indicative of higher potency drugs like Fentanyl and Carfentanil being available in the community. Tempe Fire Medical Rescue, CARE7, and other community partners participate in an Opioid Task Force, which identifies ways to reduce the percentage of opioid related misuse and abuse in Tempe.  See the performance measure.

Tempe Police implemented an innovative approach to addressing the opioid crisis, by equipping 100% of patrol officers with Narcan and partnering with EMPACT-SPC. 

With this partnership, rapid, 24/7 wrap-around behavioral health supports can be provided when Tempe Police administer Naloxone (Narcan).  This saves lives and helps people find substance abuse treatment.

This unique police/community collaboration to address substance use is likely to become a national model.