SE Valley Times

The Chandler City Council has approved agreements with two community-based organizations, Recovery Café Arizona and EMPACT-Suicide Prevention Center, to provide opioid treatment and prevention services. Each organization will receive $50,000 in funding.

Recovery Café Arizona operates a peer-recovery center model that offers support groups, social connection, computer access, and other services. The funds awarded will specifically support recovery coaching sessions, recovery circles, and educational opportunities through the School for Recovery for 200 Chandler residents.

EMPACT-Suicide Prevention Center (EMPACT-SPC) will use two nationally recognized, evidence-based prevention curricula—"Too Good for Drugs" and "Operation Prevention"—to support 625 Chandler youth. These programs will be delivered in Chandler schools and include educational components for parents and guardians.

Funding for these agreements comes from the city’s share of the One Arizona Distribution of Opioid Settlement Funds Agreement. This agreement originates from a $26 billion national settlement involving opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and distributors McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Cardinal Health. Arizona is set to receive an estimated $542 million over 18 years. Since April of this year, the City of Chandler has received more than $735,000.

According to officials, these agreements mark just the beginning of opioid education, treatment, and prevention efforts in Chandler.