Each year, hundreds of people in Pima County die from accidental overdoses related to fentanyl. Harm reduction efforts aim to prevent those deaths.

Overdose deaths are not exclusive to communities struggling with addiction. They are also a concern for people who participate in recreational drug use at raves and other live events, where the risk is particularly high.

“There’s this perpetuation that it’s only people out on the streets. It’s not,” said Brian Eller with the Pima County Health Department.

In 2024, 26 people ages 20 to 29 died of overdoses in which fentanyl was present in Pima County. That’s the lowest number of fentanyl-related deaths since 2020, when the number of deaths peaked at 74, according to the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office. These numbers include overdoses attributed to fentanyl alone, as well as when other drugs were present.

Across all age groups, the number of fentanyl related fatalities  in Pima County has gone down in recent years from a high of  309 in 2023 to 220 in 2024. So far in 2025, 33 fentanyl related deaths have been recorded in the county.

The decrease in fatalities is attributed to the expansion of prevention and response programs that were disrupted by COVID-19, as well as the widespread distribution of the medication naloxone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Harm reduction in action

Efforts are underway to reduce harm among young people who use drugs recreationally by distributing harm reduction tools like naloxone. Commonly known as Narcan, it is a medication that temporarily reverses opioid overdoses and is one of the primary tools used by the community to prevent deaths.

“The bulk of our distribution goes out to places like SAFE, CODAC, COPE,” said Eller, referring to local mental health and crisis centers that provide community harm reduction services.

Harm reduction acknowledges the reality that people use drugs despite narcotics crackdowns and instead focuses on reducing fatalities.

Under Arizona’s Good Samaritan law, citizens are protected from legal liability when assisting someone suffering from an overdose, including by administering naloxone.

Overdose victims treated with the drug still need medical attention, as they are at risk of falling back into an overdose.

Live music events

Live music events are a major site of recreational drug use among young people, making access to harm reduction tools critical, said Ava Blumenthal, a freelancer who works at live events.

“I think it’s always important to have Narcan on you so if someone around you is overdosing, you can save a person’s life,” she said.

Carrying naloxone has become increasingly common at shows nationwide, thanks to widespread naloxone distribution by public safety programs, according to the CDC.

Ryan Becker, a 21-year-old University of Arizona student, recently attended a hardstyle electronic dance music event at Gentle Ben’s on University Boulevard.

Although he has not personally seen naloxone used, he thinks it’s important to have the drug available at event venues.

“Narcan is important at shows in order to save lives,” he said.

For more information on becoming Narcan-certified, visit Sonoran Prevention Works or get online certification through End Overdose.

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.