Terros Health’s story began in the summer of 1969, when a group of teens and young adults looked around their community and saw friends and family members struggling with substance use. Determined to make a positive difference, these young people — many of whom were former drug users — created a new kind of support system, meeting people where they were and partnering with law enforcement and healthcare providers while earning the trust of those battling addiction.

Their “no heat” approach to connection and referrals gained national recognition in the first year. With a unique blend of staff and volunteers, they built a model — using ambulances, crisis lines and residential locations — that transcended traditional treatment modalities by creating multiple pathways to care.

These grassroots efforts laid the foundation for some of the most progressive prevention and treatment programs in Arizona and across the nation.

When HIV and AIDS became an epidemic in the 1980s, our team was on the front lines as regional educators, screeners, and crisis trainers. Today, with the same fervor and determination as our founders, our team provides trauma-informed mental health care, primary care, substance use recovery, HIV prevention and treatment, and crisis intervention.

We also continue to identify gaps in services. Some cases in point: We expanded our continuum of care to include Justice Services, children’s programs, housing support and outreach to the unhoused population. Recognizing the need for mental health support in rural Arizona, we launched mobile crisis teams in Flagstaff, Bullhead City and Kingman. And we opened an outpatient clinic in Kingman and added EMTs and a specialized 911 response team in Flagstaff.

We have doubled our children’s services and are one of the few Valley providers offering trauma-informed mental health and substance use treatment for children. We were also among the first to adopt medication-assisted treatment that combines FDA-approved medications with behavioral therapy and physical care.

Through innovative partnerships with organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley, we’ve built models that support healthy development and prevent risky behaviors.

Like in 1969, mental health and substance use remain critical areas of need. One in four Arizonans has a mental health condition, and many suffer in silence. The urgency to address the rise in fentanyl and other substances is greater than ever, as these issues affect people of all ages, genders, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds. As the opioid crisis deepened, Terros Health became one of the largest providers of lifesaving Narcan training and access to free dispensing machines. We also launched a Portable Clinical Care Pilot Program for individuals experiencing homelessness and partnered with cities such as Glendale and Kingman to create community-specific solutions.

For more than five decades, Terros Health has pursued an ambitious agenda to bring hope, health and healing to those most in need, ensuring no one walks this journey alone.

Over the years, Terros Health has become a trusted voice in physical and mental health — shaping policy, informing public discourse, and making an enduring impact on patients and communities.

As we look to the future, Terros Health remains unwavering in its mission: to be a beacon of hope for every individual who feels unseen, unheard or underserved. With compassion as our compass and innovation as our guide, we will continue to break barriers, build bridges, and transform lives. The journey is far from over, and together, we will keep moving forward, one life at a time.