Get The Facts.
Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others.
Artwork credit: Angelina Jonas, 2018 Poster Contest Grand Prize Winner
The Danger
Prescription opioids and illegal opioids like heroin are addictive and can be deadly. More than two people die every day from opioid overdoses in Arizona. Due to an alarming increase in opioid deaths in 2016, Governor Ducey declared a state of emergency on June 5, 2017, which set in motion substantial action to prevent opioid addiction and reduce opioid overdoses in Arizona. With completion of the emergency response deliverables, and the implementation of the Opioid Action Plan and the Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act, Governor Ducey officially called an end to the public health emergency on May 29, 2018. While the official emergency has ended, the fight to save lives and turn the tide on the opioid epidemic continues.
Find out more:
Arizona Emergency Response
Longtime Military Leader Shares Story in Honor of National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month
Col. Paul Aguirre shares the moment the opioid crisis struck his family
In November of 2019, the Aguirre family received the call no one wants. The 20-year-old family member they loved so much had died, in his dorm room, at ASU. Colonel Paul Aguirre shares the story of how the life of his young nephew was taken too soon.
Colonel Aguirre is with the Arizona National Guard and has proudly served in the U.S. Military for more than 33 years.
Find Help
Recovery is possible. Treatment does work.
Countless individuals across the nation have reclaimed their lives in long-term recovery with the help of treatment and recovery service providers who make recovery possible.
Find treatment facilities and resources to help with recovery.
Contact the Arizona Opioid Assistance & Referral Line with opioid-related questions. Speak with trained nurses and pharmacists that can help with
- Referrals for treatment and pain specialists
- Concerns about the use of opioids
- Safe use of opioids for acute or chronic pain
- Education about naloxone
- Questions about opioid use during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Arizona’s opioid laws and prescribing guidelines
Help is available 24/7. Calls are free and confidential.
1 (888) 688-4222
Arizona Opioid Service Locator
Find general information about medication assisted treatment and opioid use disorder services.
Medication-assisted treatment combines behavioral therapy and medication to treat substance use disorders for the purposes of promoting and maintaining recovery. To learn more view the printable pocket guide on Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder created in partnership with AHCCCS and the ASU Medical Advisory Board.
Artwork credit: Daan Enrique, 2015 Poster Contest Age Category Winner
Save a Life
An opioid overdose can be reversed with the drug naloxone when given right away.
What is naloxone?
Naloxone is a medication designed to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist—meaning that it binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids. It can very quickly restore normal respiration to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped as a result of overdosing with fentanyl, heroin or prescription opioid pain medications. Watch this video to learn more about how naloxone works.
How to Obtain Naloxone
The Director of Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) issued a standing order on November 11, 2017, that allows any Arizona-licensed pharmacist to dispense naloxone to any individual without a prescription. Arizonans can pick up naloxone at all pharmacy locations across the state. Or visit NaloxoneAZ.com to find a community distribution site near you.
Watch now to learn how the combination of you and naloxone can #SaveALife.
