Horne: First of more than 16,000 Narcan kits headed to Az. schools

Result of efforts of STOP-IT Task Force, partnership with state agencies

PHOENIX – Flanked by representatives from multiple state agencies and members of department’s task force who worked to procure lifesaving Narcan for Arizona schools, state Superintendent Tom Horne today announced more than 16,000 Narcan kits are now available for distribution to school campuses.

Superintendent Horne formed the School Training Overdose Preparedness and Intelligence Taskforce, (STOPIT) in May and it includes representatives from schools, health care, law enforcement and representatives from other state agencies tasked with addressing this growing problem. 

Horne stated, “Lives will be saved because these kits will be in schools throughout Arizona. The STOP-IT Task Force has done incredible work to address the Fentanyl crisis among school-aged children and this is a major step to protecting the lives of students and raising awareness of this terrible scourge.”

The Arizona Department of Health Services procured the Narcan kits at no cost to the state. Staff from the Arizona Department of Education, supported by members of the Arizona National Guard, will deliver the kits to schools, and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is providing training on using the kits.

Horne added, “I want to thank the Department of Health Service, AHCCCS, the Arizona National Guard, and my staff for their efforts to get Narcan to schools throughout the state and train people on its use. I also want to thank the co-chairman of the STOP-IT Task Force, Dr. Holly Geyer, for her tireless commitment to this process. And to every member of the Task Force, thank you as well for your service to doing this meaningful and lifesaving work.”

STOP-IT Co-Chairman Dr. Holly Geyer, Addiction Medicine Specialist at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale said, “The STOP-IT naloxone distribution initiative could not have materialized without the unprecedented collaboration between the Department of Education, the Department of Health, AHCCCS and the National Guard.  The representatives appointed through these agencies proved themselves strategic problem solvers who prioritized the mission and produced outcomes that far exceeded the taskforce’s original targets.  Because of their resolve, we are proud to offer schools more than just naloxone. We can offer confidence in the safety of our school campuses and parental peace of mind.”

Maj. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck, Director, Department of Emergency and Military Affairs stated, “The Drug Demand Reduction Outreach team’s logistical support is just one part in a community effort. Reducing drug demand also means tackling drug overdose incidents. Through this multi-agency initiative, we build stronger communities and support wellness in our future generations.”

Kate Dobler, state opioid treatment authority said, "Providing Naloxone in schools is a critical step in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and communities. By bringing together agencies to distribute the initial 16,200 Naloxone kits, we have laid the foundation for an ongoing partnership between the Department of Education and AHCCCS. This collaboration will support the continual replenishment of Naloxone kits, ensuring that our schools remain equipped to handle opioid emergencies. Our collective efforts underscore the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding our youth and fostering a safe educational environment."

Initial orders of Narcan will be distributed to schools in each of Arizona’s 15 counties this week. Each school order includes flyers on training resources, information on county health agency partners, an announcement of the upcoming comprehensive STOP-IT Toolkit release, and a QR code that will take the user to real-time training on Naloxone Resources provided by AHCCCS.