A new county-supported program in Pima County is aiming to reduce jail bookings and emergency room visits by diverting people in substance use crisis into immediate treatment and stabilization services, according to officials.
The initiative, called the Sobering Alternative for Recovery (SAFR) center, was launched in January with $1.8 million in funding from opioid settlement funds. It is designed as a low-barrier, medically supported facility that provides short-term stabilization and connects individuals to longer-term addiction treatment.
The center is operated by Community Bridges, Inc., in partnership with CODAC Health, Recovery in Wellness, and the University of Arizona School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness.
A diversion-focused recovery model
County officials opened the program after issuing a request for proposals last July. The Board of Supervisors approved the contract with Community Bridges in November as part of broader efforts guided by the Regional Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee, which oversees opioid settlement funding for both the county and city…