People who use opioids, their loved ones, and the health care professionals treating them need multiple layers of support as we continue the fight against the ongoing opioid overdose epidemic.
The Opioid Assistance and Referral Line, or OAR Line, is here to help everyone impacted by opioids. Medical experts offer patients, providers, and family members free opioid information, resources, and referrals 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services are also available in an individual’s preferred language.
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is proud to close out National Poison Prevention Week by highlighting the OAR Line. Every year National Poison Prevention Week is recognized to raise awareness about poisoning, reduce unintentional poisonings, and promote poison prevention nationwide.
For the public: People needing help with opioid use or their loved ones can speak with the OAR Line’s team of licensed nurses and pharmacists and get connected to care. The OAR Line is free and confidential and is there to provide answers to questions and concerns, at any time about opioid use.
For health care providers: Health care providers including certified nurses, pharmacists, and physicians are available 24/7 every day of the year for real-time consultation about patient care, including chronic pain, drug interactions, opioid withdrawal, and medication assisted treatment.
Arizona experienced 1,867 opioid deaths and 4,056 non-fatal opioid overdoses in 2023. Nationally, over 111,000 people died from a drug overdose that same year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The OAR Line is just one of the ways ADHS helps those dealing with opioid addiction and prevents hospitalizations and deaths in the state.
This valuable resource is available to Arizona residents and health care providers thanks to a partnership between ADHS, the University of Arizona College of Medicine, and the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Centers at Banner Health.
View our new video highlighting the support the OAR Line offers and what people can expect when they call. The video describes how the OAR Line was created and how providers answering calls offer confidential, non-judgmental, and compassionate service.
Currently, 95% of the people calling the OAR Line are family or friends looking for information to help loved ones struggling with a substance use disorder. The empathetic team at the OAR Line are there to answer questions, be a listening ear, provide connection to resources on opioid dependency and withdrawal, and to provide referrals to health care providers who can help further.
To reach free, confidential help at the OAR Line, call 1-888-688-4222.
For more information about the work being done to address the opioid crisis in Arizona, the ADHS Opioid Prevention page includes links to data dashboards, community resources, and more.
