Nonprofit organizations that work to prevent and reduce opioid use in Mesa could get help thanks to money coming from a national class action settlement for the first time.
Mesa launched a $1 million community grant with the “One Arizona” agreement funds from the state’s distribution of the National Opioid Settlement funds from pharmaceutical companies. That agreement coordinates the details of how local governments can spend the settlement money.
National litigators secured more than $50 billion deriving from at least 10 settlements against pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, pharmacy chains and others. That included companies like Walgreens, CVS, Jansen, Tva, Allergen and Walmart among others. Arizona’s share of the National Opioid Settlement is anticipated to be $1.12 billion over 18 years.
The state will keep 44% of the total and counties will receive 56% or about $629 million to distribute to cities and towns.
Mesa’s distribution from Maricopa County’s allotment is 6.06%. To date, the city has received $4.5 million and is expected to receive between $17 to $22 million over the next 16 years.
The community grant marks the city’s first expenditure of a portion of its settlement funds.
Since 2018, Mesa Fire and Medical responded to 6,233 opioid overdose incidents and reported 702 opioid overdose deaths, according to data from the city.
Opioid use trends from the city’s data show use peaking in 2021 with Mesa Fire and Medical responding to 1,242 incidents. By 2023, reported incidents decreased by 512. Last year, the city saw an uptick in opioid overdoses reporting 1,031, a 99% increase from the previous year.
Candance Cannistraro, a deputy city manager with Mesa, told the Arizona Republic over the past two years, Mesa had a Maricopa County employee assigned to the city. That employee was tasked to work with the city’s departments to identify the best use of the settlement funds and how to implement them.
What staff came up with is a “balanced program” that will assist its fire and police departments and bring in nonprofits who are already doing work in this space, she said.
Fifteen years ago, Brock Bevell, a former Mesa police officer and now community organizer, got addicted to opioids after getting injured on the job. Now he goes around the community handing out donations and Narcan, a nasal spray to help prevent overdoses, to people in the city addicted to drugs.
Bevell told The Republic was cautiously optimistic the grant could do good. He said the grant is “reactionary” to the broader issue and that the city isn’t “in front” of the problem.
He hopes some of the funding goes toward smaller nonprofits that are doing boots-on-the-ground work.
Details of Grant
Qualified nonprofits can apply for grants to support services that fall into four categories:
- Prevention and education
- Early intervention and treatment
- Harm reduction and rescue
- Recovering and resiliency
Cannistraro said the funding will cover the gap for ongoing programs and should be directed toward Mesa residents.
She said the city will prioritize programs that target youth education and intervention. That’s in part because of the city’s data that shows opioid incidents have been reported occurring as early as 14, Cannistraro said.
City data shows opioid overdose incidents have occurred 273 times with teenagers between the ages of 14 and 19 since 2018.
The 2024 Arizona Youth Survey found that only 34% of teenagers had a conversation with a parent or guardian about the dangers of fentanyl.
Cannistraro said the nonprofits will help fill the gap in services with what the city already provides with its police and fire departments.
The minimum award amount will be $50,000.
Applications from the grant open on Feb. 18 and close on March 11.
The city will host a kickoff meeting on Feb. 18 with the community to learn more and ask questions with staff before submitting applications.
Interested applicants can visit mesaaz.gov/Government/Grants/Opioid-Grant to apply for the grant.
How city plans to spend the rest of its funds
The city has an additional $3.5 million from the One Arizona Settlement it plans to spend and anticipates receiving about $1 million yearly.
Cannistraro said the city is working to partner with Mesa Public Schools created a program to create a prevention-based education program. Cannistraro will bring the proposal to the city’s Mesa’s Education and Workforce Roundtable at its March 5 meeting.
She said the city also plans to purchase a drug incinerator to remove opioids off the street using about $60,000.
The city also plans to add to its community outreach navigator program by adding six employees to that team. That would create an ongoing $550,000 yearly cost to the city’s budget.
The community outreach navigators provide peer support and education and help access to treatment and shelter.
Reporter Maritza Dominguez covers Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek and can be reached at [email protected] or 480-271-0646. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @maritzacdom.
