'It's going to get worse': Lawmaker calls for action after sharing photos of Arizona Capitol overdose

One Arizona lawmaker sparked conversations on social media Thursday after sharing a story about assisting a man experiencing a drug overdose near the state Capitol.

Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, shared a post on X after finding a man unconscious at an intersection near the Capitol grounds. Gress and another bystander called emergency services for the man who appeared to be experiencing an opioid overdose.

The post included photos of the man both unconscious and being helped by first responders from the Phoenix Fire Department. Gress said he shared the story and the photos to highlight the reality of addiction issues in Arizona.

"The reason why I decided to share this story and share these tragic photos is to put real-life realities out there in photographic form for people to see that this is the fallout of the opioid epidemic and the fentanyl epidemic and it's going to get worse if we continue the status quo," Gress told The Arizona Republic.

He said the man was revived by first responders with Narcan and taken to a hospital for further treatment after drug paraphernalia was found in his backpack. Phoenix Fire Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident.

"We might have saved his life today," Gress wrote in the X post. "But what happens when he sobers up and leaves the hospital? What will he do then? And what if he refuses to get treatment for his addiction?"

After witnessing the situation, Gress said the need for intervention from state lawmakers became even more apparent.

"We need to have a more engaged public policy response to those who are suffering from addiction," Gress said. "Right now, I think we have more of a passive approach where when someone is ready to get clean, then they can come forward. But more people are falling into addiction and as a result of a disease they are finding themselves in similar situations as the man I found laying on the ground yesterday."

Gress said he has been working with a bipartisan group of legislators on several bills that would help Arizonans get help with addiction. That includes legislation aimed at improving sober living and behavioral residential treatment facilities and establishing "drug-free zones" around services for people experiencing homelessness.

Previously, Gress has argued that one of the unaddressed issues with homelessness is addiction. He cited a Common Sense Institute study which found that 81% of deaths in people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County were drug-related.

The state Capitol is blocks away from what used to be "The Zone," Phoenix's largest homeless encampment. The Zone was fully cleared out in late 2023 after a judge declared it a public nuisance.

Gress said lawmakers often see homeless people and those struggling with addiction near the Capitol, which has impacted the legislation he drafts and supports.

"I'm privileged to have the opportunity to represent my constituents in the state and to the extent that that gives me a platform to raise awareness about issues, I'm going to use that platform especially when it comes to the human tragedy we saw yesterday," Gress said.

He acknowledged some replies on his post that questioned whether he should have taken and posted photos of the man but said he hoped the photos would spur action from lawmakers and community leaders.

"I posted (it) to just really bring home for our state leaders that there is still so much we should be doing," Gress said.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Rep. Matt Gress wants change after witnessing Capitol overdose