Tempe Uses Sewage to Fight Opioid Crisis

Tempe just launched its cutting-edge BioIntel Innovation Lab, using wastewater to track public health threats like the opioid crisis — a first for any U.S. city since 2018. With new tech and data from ASU’s BioDesign Center, they’re turning sewage into lifesaving intel, aiming to slash overdoses to zero by 2038. Despite 89 fatal overdoses this year — matching 2020 levels — non-fatal cases are down, and their real-time data dashboard tracks everything from fentanyl to measles. No homes are targeted — just nine zones to spot trends — like when they detected tranquilizer use, forcing a new Narcan response. Beyond health, it’s breaking stigma, drawing in community members eager to help and understand what’s really happening in their neighborhoods. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/31dfa27b9cfb8f47