Community Bridges Inc. partners with Mesa businesses to help prevent opioid overdoses

By Connor Van Ligten
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A nonprofit organization is partnering with businesses in downtown Mesa to help fight the opioid epidemic.

Community Bridges Inc. is helping distribute free Narcan kits to multiple businesses in Mesa. Narcan is a nasal spray designed to reverse opioid overdoses quickly.

They are also helping train local employees on how to treat and prevent opioid overdoses.

This campaign comes as a partnership between CBI, Maricopa County Public Health and downtown Mesa.

“Through opioid settlement funding through Maricopa County Public Health we’re able to go out to businesses in the downtown Mesa area and provide Naloxone and Narcan education,” Natalia Chimbo-Andrade, director of community education and outreach at Community Bridges Inc., said. “For those that are interested, we’re able to leave them free boxes of Narcan provided by the Arizona Department of Health to create awareness in that downtown community area.”

According to Carmen Batista from Maricopa County Public Health Services, this helps with the county’s substance use prevention and response plan.

“One of our stronger evidence strategies is the use of Narcan or Naloxone and having this kind of education in the community,” Batista said. “Having increased access to Narcan kits is really essential for improving the health of our community.”

Downtown Mesa being a lively and populated area was another factor for targeting businesses, according to Andrade.

“We’re taking this approach and knowing this is kind of seen as a hot zone area,” Andrade said. “Informing the business owners if they have heard of Narcan, and that it’s good to keep on hand just in case they encounter someone that might need it.”

For Batista, it helps to have multiple avenues of access to care in the Mesa community, especially when it comes to opioids.

“We’re interested in increasing access to care and as part of that, we want to meet people where they are and not everyone is going to be connected to something like a school,” Batista said. “To have business as a part of that in our communities is another way we can meet people where they are.”

Andrade said that providing these resources and training for business employees could potentially save a life.

“Research shows that individuals who are struggling with substance use disorder or even in a case of an overdose they take place in a private residence or a public place like a public bathroom,” Andrade said. “It’s bringing awareness that it’s important to have it on hand. We hope that nobody has to use it, but if they’re in a situation they do, they feel more confident and prepared to use it.”