Tempe Now Offers Free Narcan Kits to the Public
Residents can pick up life-saving opioid-reversal medication at fire stations and community centers across the city.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Substance Abuse
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Tempe is offering free Narcan kits to the public at local fire stations and community centers to help address a regional rise in overdose deaths. The initiative provides kits containing two doses of the opioid-reversal medication, which typically retails for around $50.
Why it matters
The program comes in response to an 18% increase in overdose deaths across Arizona, even as national rates have trended downward. Making this medication readily accessible may provide a critical resource for bystanders to respond to opioid-related emergencies.
Official public health reporting shows an 18% increase in overdose deaths in Arizona, contrasting with a 14% decrease in national overdose rates over the last year. It remains unknown how many kits are currently available across all distribution points.
The players
Arizona Public Health Association
A professional organization that tracks and reports on health outcomes and mortality trends in the state.
ASU Police Department
The law enforcement agency responsible for safety and crime tracking on and near the university campus.
The details
Narcan Nasal Spray works by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain to block the effects of drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone. If an overdose is suspected, a user sprays one dose into the nostril and may administer a second dose if needed. Funding for these kits is sourced from state allocations and national opioid settlement dollars.
Timeline
National overdose rates dropped by nearly 14% over the last year.
The ASU Police Department recorded 12 narcotics cases near campus in the last 60 days.
Health Landscape
This local program aligns with broader efforts to deploy funding from the national opioid settlement to mitigate the ongoing overdose crisis. It highlights the divergence between statewide mortality trends in Arizona and the downward trajectory observed nationally.
Tempe residents can obtain free kits at the Tempe EnVision Center, fire stations, public CPR classes, and the Tempe Coalition. If you are concerned about potential opioid exposure, having this medication on hand is a topic worth discussing with your physician.
The takeaway
Naloxone is an effective, non-invasive tool that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Consider keeping a kit in your home or vehicle and becoming familiar with how to administer it in an emergency.
Further reading
For more information on local resources and public health guidance, visit Substance Abuse.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Statepress.
Live Poll
Do you support the city providing free Narcan kits at local public facilities in your area?
