The Tempe First-Responder Opioid Recovery Project will increase the ability to prevent opioid
fatalities in our community, by increasing the capacity for law-enforcement and other key
stakeholders to carry and administer Naloxone for suspected opioid overdoses, while connecting
at-risk individuals to ongoing appropriate evidence-based treatments and awareness. The City of
Tempe is the primary applicant and will partner with EMPACT-Suicide Prevention Center (EMPACT-SPC)
to provide rapid follow-up and navigation assistance to connect individuals with an Opioid Use
Disorder (OUD) with ongoing Evidence Based Practice treatments and services, and Arizona State
University for Evaluation.
To accomplish this goal, the Tempe First-Responder Opioid Recovery Project will 1) Equip Tempe
Police Officers (TPD) with Naloxone and train them on addiction and resources, 2) Create a 24/7
in-person “Crisis Outreach Response Team” to rapidly respond to any suspected OUD crisis that
Tempe First-Responders are involved with, 3) Provide “Post-Crisis Transition Peer-Support
Navigator” follow-up support to the individual/family, for up to 30-60 days, during the
“post-crisis” period, to assist with “warm-handoffs,” transportation, referrals, and connectivity
to ongoing community treatment and recovery services. Over the four-year project period, The Tempe
First-Responder Opioid Recovery Project will:
• Train and equip 540 Individuals with Naloxone for the emergency treatment of known or
suspected opioid overdoses. Tempe Police Department will equip 250 employees during Year 1. In
addition, 290 key community stakeholders (including families of overdose victims) will be
trained/equipped. (Year 1-285, Year 2-85, Year 3-85, Year 4-85)
• Tempe Police Officers will administer Naloxone to 155 individuals believed to be experiencing
an opioid/heroin overdose. (Year 1-20, Year 2-45, Year 3-45, Year 4-45)
• Provide 435 in-person, 24/7 behavioral health responses, to individuals who experienced a
suspected overdose (Year 1 -60, Year 2-125, Year 3 – 125, Year 4 -125)
• Provide 410 of these overdose victims and families with information about treatment services
(Year 1- 50, Year 2 - 120, Year 3 – 120, Year 4 -120)
o 255 of will accept ongoing short-term post crisis navigation services, helping individuals
access and connect to ongoing treatment/services. (Year 1-30, Year 2 – 75, Year 3 – 75, Year 4
-75)
• 540 First Responders and key community stakeholders (including families of overdose victims)
will be trained on safety around fentanyl, carfetanil and other dangerous and illicit drugs. (Year
1-285, Year 2- 85, Year 3-85, Year 4-85)
• Total People Served: 685 (250 TPD Trained/Equipped and 435 Behavioral Health responses)