The Tulsa City Council meeting on September 17, 2025, highlighted the urgent need for community awareness and action regarding the opioid crisis, coinciding with National Opioid Awareness Day on September 21. The meeting featured key representatives from various local organizations, including the Tulsa County government, the Oklahoma Attorney General's office, and several mental health and substance misuse treatment providers.

A significant focus of the discussion was the alarming rise in opioid-related overdoses in Tulsa and surrounding areas. The council noted that the region is experiencing a "fourth wave" of the overdose crisis, characterized by increasingly potent opioids and polysubstance use. Overdose deaths involving fentanyl have surged nearly 15-fold in recent years, underscoring the critical need for community intervention and support.

The Tulsa Fire Department's Overdose Response Team (ORT) was highlighted for its proactive measures in addressing this crisis. The ORT has provided field-based overdose responses, critical time interventions, and harm reduction education, assisting nearly 500 individuals to date. Additionally, the Fire Department's ART 2 program aims to equip unhoused individuals at risk of overdose with naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses.

The discussions at the meeting reflect a growing commitment among local leaders and organizations to combat the opioid epidemic through awareness, prevention, and support for those affected. As the community prepares for National Opioid Awareness Day, the emphasis remains on uplifting individuals in treatment and recovery while addressing the broader implications of substance misuse in Tulsa.

This meeting marks a crucial step in fostering collaboration among various stakeholders to tackle the opioid crisis and improve public health outcomes in the community.