Compositions and methods to produce adhesive articles with active agents concentrated at the substrate contacting surface. The active agents are applied in powder form, or in combination with a liquid or gel vehicle, to the substrate contacting surface of an adhesive layer of an adhesive article. The active agent compositions are directly applied to the adhesive layer, or are first applied to a release liner, which is then brought into contact with the adhesive layer to dispose the active agent compositions to the substrate contacting surface of the adhesive layer. Upon application of the adhesive article to a substrate, the active agent is delivered to a region of interest on the substrate.