Tempe Launches New Opioid Response Plan Using National Settlement Funds

The City of Tempe’s new opioid response plan aims to reduce opioid deaths, improve recovery, and enhance enforcement.Photo byHaripriya KonUnsplash

TEMPE — The City of Tempe has unveiled a new opioid response plan, approved by the Tempe City Council, to bolster prevention, recovery, and enforcement efforts in combating opioid misuse.

Funded by more than $9 million from national opioid settlement funds, the plan aims to address the public health crisis impacting youth and adults across the city.

“Opioid misuse is a serious public health threat in Tempe, our state, and our country. Last year alone in Tempe, 90 people died from a drug overdose, and another 426 people overdosed but survived,” said Mayor Corey Woods.

“These settlement funds will allow us to expand vital programs, services, and training to better serve our community and save lives.”

Tempe’s share of the settlement comes from the One Arizona Distribution of Opioid Settlement Funds Agreement, which holds pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the opioid crisis.

According to the city, Tempe is expected to receive approximately $500,000 annually over 18 years from seven active settlements.

The plan is structured around three goals: reducing opioid deaths, improving quality of life for those affected by opioid use disorder, and decreasing the presence of opioids in the city.

Key initiatives in the plan include:

• Prevention: Implementing school-based programs to prevent drug misuse.
• Recovery and Resiliency: Providing peer recovery services and enhancing treatment navigation for justice-involved individuals.
• Enforcement: Offering training for law enforcement to better address substance use disorders.
• Capacity Building: Expanding staff and resources to support opioid programs and collaboration across systems.

Tempe Fire Medical Rescue responded to 603 opioid-related calls in the past year, further demonstrating the need for continued intervention, according to city officials.

“As part of Tempe’s ongoing opioid response plan, we will continuously monitor data to ensure we are responsive to emerging trends and needs,” said Tim Burch, Tempe’s Community Health and Human Services director.

Tempe’s leadership in addressing the opioid crisis includes innovative efforts like using wastewater data to inform opioid service and creating a data dashboard to guide strategies.

The OCTIS task force includes collaboration between the City Manager’s Office, Community Health and Human Services Department, Tempe Fire Medical Rescue, Tempe Police Department, and nonprofit partners such as the Tempe Community Council, according to the city.