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Opioid and Substance Use Prevention and Support Services
What is the Opioid Epidemic?
The opioid epidemic started in the late 90s with the increase in prescriptions of opioid medication. This led to widespread misuse of both prescription and non-prescription opioids. Starting around 2010, we began to see an increase in the number of deaths attributed to heroin as well. In recent years, with the rise in illicitly manufactured fentanyl, death rates have skyrocketed. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during the 12-month period between May 2020 and April 2021, over 100,000 people died due to a drug overdose. Among these, approximately 75,000 deaths were due to opioids, and predominantly synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
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Opioid Crisis Response Program
The Opioid Crisis Response (OCR) program works to reduce incidents of opioid overdose and overdose fatalities by providing individuals with peer support, harm reduction education, linkages to treatment and supportive wraparound services. The OCR Program also seeks to engage friends and family members of individuals who use drugs by providing education and tools to prevent overdose.
The program accepts referrals for individuals who have just experienced overdose as well as for individuals who are at risk for experiencing an overdose. The program is funded by a grant through the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Resources Offered
- Peer support
- Care navigation
- Referrals to treatment
- Referrals to support services
- Tips, tools, and education to help stay safe and prevent overdose
- Free naloxone & harm reduction education
Opioid Crisis Response program contact:
- Opioid Referral Text Line: (928) 275-2610
- HOTLINE FOR REFERRALS: (928) 679-7267
- Angeles Guzman, Program Manager: (928) 679-7227 or email aguzman@coconino.az.gov
Opioid Overdose Prevention Program
The Coconino County Health and Human Services, Opioid Overdose Prevention program is funded via grant with the Arizona Department of Health Services and is part of a statewide initiative to reduce the number of fatal opioid overdoses.
The Opioid Overdose Prevention Program provides education, promotes harm reduction strategies, and can provide technical assistance to implement best practice policies to prevent fatal opioid overdoses.
Program staff are located in Flagstaff and Page and build partnerships to create awareness of resources pertaining to opioid use.
Contact info: Candice Koenker, Program Manager: (928) 679-7264 or email
Free Narcan
Naloxone, or Narcan, is a life-saving medication, that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. Having Narcan and knowing how to use it can save a life. Who should have Narcan? Anyone in Coconino County can obtain Narcan free of charge.
In Coconino contact (928) 679-7264 or email to receive a free naloxone kit and training about opioid overdose response.
Not in Coconino County? Find Naloxone near you
Safe Storage and Proper Disposal of Medication
Informational Links
- Coconino County Overdose Fatality Review Report - 2019
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA) Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Opioid Overdose
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Arizona Department of Health Services Opioid Epidemic
- Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family Opioid Abuse and Misuse
- Arizona Opioid Action Plan
- National Harm Reduction Coalition
- Drug Policy Alliance