Arizona teen provides naloxone to schools after personal overdose experience

(InvestigateTV) — Each week in 2022, the equivalent of a high school classroom’s worth of students — about 22 adolescents — died of drug overdoses in the United States, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.

The latest numbers from 2023 show a slight decline in drug overdose deaths among children and teens.

According to KFF Health, one factor that may have contributed to that drop is increased access to the opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan.

In Arizona, a teen was inspired to make the life-saving drug accessible to his community after an overdose hit close to home.

Student creates naloxone distribution program

Bennett Murphy, a 16-year-old student, began his mission after witnessing someone close to him suffer an overdose.

“I had watched someone really close to me suffer an overdose and that was kind of the first moment that broke through to me and just kind of really showed me that it’s possible to happen to anyone,” Murphy said.

Since then, Murphy has dedicated himself to saving people’s lives through naloxone distribution.

“I thought there has to be a more accessible way for everyone in schools to receive Narcan,” Murphy said.

Each box Murphy assembles contains brochures on how to identify an overdose and how to administer Narcan, as well as Narcan itself.

“A big part of the boxes is that they’re able to be placed in multiple different areas across the school. This ensures that if a nurse is maybe out, or God forbid doesn’t know where the Narcan is, there is always going to be a pinpoint spot where anyone regardless of their title in the school is going to know where this Narcan is and how to use it,” Murphy said.

Arizona overdose statistics

Since 2017, Arizona has recorded 224 deaths and more than 1,300 nonfatal overdoses in people younger than 18.

“I’m just able to lay back and think maybe what I’ve done today can save a life and that’s the most important thing to me,” Murphy said.

Distribution efforts expand statewide

Since starting in 2023, Murphy has distributed naloxone kits to more than 200 schools, homeless encampments and recovery centers. He receives naloxone and monetary donations through state grants and community contributions.

Arizona does not require naloxone in schools, but some states do.

As of December 2025, eight states — including Texas, Illinois, Minnesota and Oregon — require public high schools to keep naloxone on site for responding to overdoses at school or school-sponsored events, according to the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association.

Learn more about Murphy’s mission here.

Naloxone help

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted a video on how to use naloxone nasal spray.