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Our mission

Building a healthy Arizona with people who use drugs

Sonoran Prevention Works was founded by and for people who use drugs. We started with a singular focus: everyone should have access to the knowledge, tools, and community they need to be safe and healthy. Today we’re committed to making that a reality at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels through street-based outreach, organizational capacity building, and state-wide advocacy work.

21,393

Overdose reversals reported (2017-2022)

1699

HIV & HCV tests conducted
(2019-2022)

29,984

Individuals trained in overdose prevention
(2019-2022)

3

Laws passed
Our history

The story of risk reduction in Arizona

2010

Co-founders create Phoenix Harm Reduction Organization (which would become Sonoran Prevention Works and Shot In The Dark)

Pre-2008

Co-founders regularly share syringes

2014

Overdose deaths were on the rise but Arizona still banned naloxone distribution for laypeople. With the support of other programs around the country, we began underground naloxone distribution.

2011

Phoenix Harm Reduction Organization begins bicycle-based syringe delivery & advocacy efforts at First Friday

2017

Following the legalization of naloxone, SPW creates a statewide Overdose Education & Naloxone Distribution network to rapidly train individuals on overdose prevention and expand access to naloxone across Arizona.

2016

Arizona becomes the 48th state to pass a Naloxone access bill following advocacy efforts by Sonoran Prevention Works, Addiction Haven, and hundreds of individuals. The new bill allows community members to possess and administer the medication through a standing order.

2019

SPW creates the Risk Reduction Outreach Program to provide services in Maricopa, Yuma, Pima, Gila, and Yavapai counties

2018

While syringe exchange and naloxone access was growing in Maricopa county, rural parts of Arizona were still lacking support. In 2018 SPW supports the launch of the first syringe service program in Northwest Arizona – the Kingman Risk Reduction Program.

2021

After several years of advocacy, SPW Advocates get syringe service programs & fentanyl test strips legalized. This paves the way for more programs to open and expand access to life-saving supplies and support.
Our vision

An Arizona where justice, autonomy, & wellbeing are guaranteed for people who use drugs

How we work

Micro

The core of our work is to support individual people through overdose education, naloxone and supply distribution, HIV and hepatitis C testing, and our outreach program.

Macro

We help Arizona organizations operationalize risk reduction programming with resources, consultations, and trainings on topic areas such as HIV, social determinants of health, integrating risk reduction in diverse settings, and more.

Mezzo

We work at the local and state levels to change policies and regulations that impact people who use drugs and their communities. We also conduct research to articulate their experiences so their voices can be heard by legislators.
Our values

Nothing about us without us

Transformation

We know that individual changes pave the way for larger system-level transformation. Every person who carries naloxone, every new syringe, every HIV test contributes to an Arizona where people who use drugs can thrive.

Equity

Systemic oppression prevents everyone from having the same opportunities for success. We work towards liberation for us all by ensuring marginalized folks are represented in all levels of our work: our team, our outreach efforts, and our partnerships.

Collaboration

On our own, we know a little, together we know a lot. By sharing our experiences and strengths, we increase our collective knowledge, capacity, and impact.

People Who Use Drugs Centered

SPW started because people who use drugs wanted to make a healthier Arizona for our loved ones. Today, we honor that by ensuring people who use drugs inform everything from our outreach, to our advocacy, to our internal hiring practices. Nothing about us without us.

Get to know us

What we do

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Introducing the new SPW Virtual Classroom

Free, online, self-paced courses with certificates awarded on course completition.
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  • Make a contribution to SPW to claim the AZ Charitable Tax Credit.
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