Arkansas Funding Priorities

Overdose prevention funding - Arkansas

There were 107,968 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2022 (34.6 deaths per 100,000 standard population), a 1.2% increase from 2021.1

• There were 617 overdose deaths in Arkansas in 20222
• There were 21.7 overdose deaths per 100,000 people (age-adjusted) in Arkansas in 20222

Overdose prevention programs

• Overdose Data to Action in States
  • Arkansas Department of Health: $2,155,910

• Public Health and Safety
  • Overdose Response Strategy: $87,600*

*average award amount

Examples of how Arkansas is working to prevent overdose

Multi-channel media campaign

The Arkansas Chamber of Commerce Foundation launched a multi-channel digital marketing and social media campaign highlighting the benefits of second chance hiring opportunities for those in active, sustained recovery. This campaign, Together Arkansas, encouraged employers to consider this untapped potential labor pool to benefit their companies, communities, and people seeking employment.

Enhanced patient and provider education

Arkansas developed a sub-grant with the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences to educate providers on safe prescribing of controlled medications. To date, the initiative has reached 30 providers and has delivered 37 academic detailing sessions on topics such as opioid safety, naloxone prescribing, benzodiazepine safety, and age-friendly healthcare.

Suicide prevention funding - Arkansas

• There were 547 suicide deaths in Arkansas in 2022
• There were 18.0 suicide deaths per 100,000 people (age-adjusted) in Arkansas in 2022

Suicide prevention programs

• Comprehensive Suicide Prevention
  • Arkansas Department of Health: $873,298