Arizona Angel Initiative – Feasibility of Expanding Throughout Arizona

The Arizona Angel Initiative is Arizona’s version of a Police-Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI) like the one piloted in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Individuals with substance use disorder can contact law enforcement for assistance in accessing treatment. This report details the development of the Arizona Angel Initiative in Maricopa County, and expansion throughout the city of Phoenix, into Scottsdale, Pinal County, and the City of Mesa, and lists the key challenges to expanding the program statewide: the lack of personnel to fulfill the Angel Navigator role, the lack of transportation to treatment, and lack of treatment capacity in rural communities.

Funding Source: Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family