TUCSON, ARIZONA – October 27, 2023 – The Pima County Attorney’s Office was honored to be recognized on Tuesday by the Public Relations Society of America of Southern Arizona (PRSA) Chapter for our work in 2022 to launch the “Make the Call” campaign, a public service message aimed at reducing opioid overdose deaths in Pima County.
The “Make the Call” campaign included video public service announcements in both English and Spanish informing viewers that Arizona’s Good Samaritan Law protects them from arrest and prosecution for minor possession and use when they dial 911 in the event of an apparent drug overdose.
The message, which was also shared on posters on buses and in office locations, encourages Pima County residents to have Narcan nasal spray on hand to help save lives in overdose situations. Narcan, the brand name nasal spray containing naloxone, can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in progress.
The 2022 PSA features County Attorney Laura Conover, Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, and Desiree Voshefsky, a correctional health supervisor for Community Medical Services. The Spanish language version features Conover and PCAO’s Chief of Detectives, Fabian Pacheco.
Public relations professionals in Kingsport, Tennessee served as judges for nominations made in Southern Arizona, selecting the campaign for a PRSA Impact Award in the category of Public Service Announcements.
The momentum from the awards ceremony set PCAO up for the launch of the latest PSA in the “Make the Call” campaign series today. The PSA features Bryan Hamilton, a Tucsonan who is currently in recovery, he has also dedicated his life to helping others overcome substance use disorders. Not only has Bryan been saved by Narcan 4 times, he has also saved 6 other people because he had Narcan on hand. Bryan graduated from the Pima County Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison Program (DTAP) in 2019 to get his life back on track.
In addition to the PSA award, “The People’s Office” also won an Impact Award for the “Year Two Review,” an annual report describing the wide array of work and services provided by the Office in 2022.
Click here to see the new PSA, and here to view our award-winning effort from 2022. You can read the 2022 annual report here, and look for our “Year Three Review” coming later this year.
The Pima County Attorney’s Office is committed to restorative justice, transparency, and accountability as the focus of a mission that also seeks alternatives to incarceration when appropriate, provides support for victims, and strives to be inclusive and equitable to all segments of the communities we serve in the pursuit of public safety and wellbeing.
Media Contact: Shawndrea Thomas
Director of Communications
Pima County Attorney’s Office
(520) 724-5738 (Office)
(520) 310-4720 (Mobile)
Shawndrea.Thomas@pcao.pima.gov
