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Arkansas Drug Statistics and Resources

Arkansas residents who need alcohol or drug rehabilitation services have access to multiple resources across the state. These facilities include medical detox centers, inpatient and outpatient care providers, and aftercare support. General resources and designated programs that focus on specialized populations such as college students, veterans, and members of the LGTBQ+ community are available. Some of the largest and most esteemed free addiction recovery resources in Arkansas are described below.

Drug Statistics in Arkansas

The opioid dispensing rate in Arkansas was 72.2 prescriptions per 100 persons in 2022. This number represents the second-highest rate in the country.
An estimated 16% of adults in Arkansas engage in binge drinking at least one time per month and individuals in the top one-fourth of this population consume an average of 9.2 drinks per binge.
13.7 per 100,000
In 2021, 386 individuals died from an opioid overdose in Arkansas, accounting for 61% of all deaths in the state. The age-adjusted overdose death rate jumped from 6.2 per 100,000 residents in 2011 to 13.7 in 2022.
239.8 per 100,000
In 2023, St. Francis County had the highest rate of naloxone administration by emergency medical personnel, with 239.8 instances per 100,000 individuals.
Around 7% of people in Arkansas age 12 and older have some kind of substance use disorder (SUD) and 5% have an alcohol use disorder.

Addiction Nonprofits in Arkansas

Wolfe Street Foundation

Located in central Arkansas, this foundation provides residential and outpatient treatment for adults in addiction recovery. They operate two gender-specific recovery residences with available services that include individual and group counseling, addiction education, life skills training, and connections to community-based recovery resources.

Exodus.Life

This non-profit organization offers comprehensive addiction treatment services combining evidence-based and peer-supported approaches to meet each client’s needs. Their Exodus Academy recovery program focuses on four streams of service including character development, career counseling, personal resource management, and restoration/re-entry. In addition to individual and group counseling, they also provide client connections to outside programs including employment and housing opportunities.

Positive Energy Affecting Recovering Lives (P.E.A.R.L)

This group provides comprehensive recovery services, education, and support for individuals seeking treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Their programs include peer-based recovery support groups, life skills training, financial literacy courses, and holistic activities including kayaking, yoga, and similar recreational activities. They also operate a food pantry and partner with the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute to provide free naloxone kits and training.

Harm Reduction Programs

Northwest Arkansas Harm Reduction

This organization provides free naloxone and other harm reduction supplies, including fentanyl and Xylazine testing strips and sterile syringes, to individuals in northwest Arkansas. They also offer addiction education, peer support groups, and connections to local addiction recovery and rehabilitation programs.

Central Arkansas Harm Reduction Project: CAHRP

Based in Little Rock, this group operates a hotline that individuals can text to receive resources for safer sex and drug use. Some of the harm reduction supplies they can provide include naloxone, HIV tests, condoms, fentanyl testing strips, and sterile syringes. They also offer addiction education services for the community.

NaloxHome - ACHI

Operating under the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI), this program delivers free naloxone to participating hospitals across the state. The medication is kept in emergency rooms to be administered to patients who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose.

Government Grants & Resources

Arkansas Department of Human Services: DAABHS

The Arkansas Department of Human Services operates the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services (DAABHS). This division focuses on two Arkansas populations: individuals who need behavioral health treatment, including addiction recovery services, and adults with physical disabilities and age-related conditions. They connect individuals to community-based programs to meet their unique needs.

Arkansas Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT)

This grant was awarded by the U.S. Bureau of Justice to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. It provides funds to statewide and county-specific addiction treatment programs that support incarcerated individuals serving short-term sentences following drug-related charges.

AR ConnectNow

Provided by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), this program provides comprehensive behavioral health services for Arkansas residents with mental health issues, including SUDs, mental illnesses, and co-occurring conditions. They operate a 24-hour call clinic and a virtual clinic for individuals seeking treatment.

Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership

Spearheaded by the Arkansas Municipal League and the Association of Arkansas Counties, this organization helps evidence-based recovery services providers secure funding and operational support. They accept proposals throughout the year, using settlement funds from the National Prescription Opiate Litigation to advance projects focused on addiction prevention, treatment, and aftercare.

College Addiction Resources

University of Arkansas: Pat Walker Health Center SEAR Program

This center, which is part of the university’s Division of Student Affairs, operates the Substance Education, Assessment, and Recovery (SEAR) program. Students can request an appointment with SEAR to address concerns related to alcohol and drug addiction. SEAR partners with groups around campus to provide access to addiction education, advocacy, and intervention services.

Arkansas State University: Wilson Counseling Center

This center provides students at Arkansas State University with access to professional counseling services. After an initial consultation, providers will recommend appropriate next steps which may include individual, couples, or group counseling, online self-help, addiction-related workshops, or career services. They can also make referrals to outside resources for students who require additional support.

Harding University: Counseling Center

Students at Harding University can receive counseling services at no cost through the on-campus Counseling Center. They provide personalized consultations, individual counseling, medication education, and connections to local providers specializing in mental health conditions and addiction recovery.

LGBTQ+ Resources

Northwest Arkansas Equality

This group provides an array of health and public services for members of the LGBTQ+ community in Northwest Arkansas. Their programs include HIV testing and education, advocacy and outreach opportunities, and peer-based support groups. They can also connect individuals with affirming organizations and providers in their local area.

ACLU of Arkansas

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arkansas provides advocacy, education, and legislative action to support the rights of the state’s LGBTQ+ community. They work to end discrimination in all areas, ensuring that individuals have equal access to the services they need, including mental health and addiction recovery treatment.

PFLAG Arkansas

There are two PFLAG locations in Arkansas, including Fayetteville and Little Rock. This organization is dedicated to ensuring the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. They provide peer-to-peer support through in-person and virtual meetings, host regular meetings and events, and offer connections to local affirming providers.

Veterans Programs

Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System

Located at the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, this program provides physical, mental, and behavioral health services for military personnel, veterans, and their families. This includes care focused on drug and alcohol addiction. Treatments are tailored to each client’s needs and may include individual and group counseling, medication management, and related support. 

Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs

Members of the military, veterans, and their families can receive various levels of support through the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs. Providers can connect individuals with housing assistance, financial assistance, VA benefits and healthcare, crisis intervention, legal resources, and similar services. They can also provide recommendations and referrals to providers specializing in mental health and behavioral health care services for the military community.

John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans' Hospital

This hospital provides physical, mental, and behavioral health services for military personnel, veterans, and their families. This includes care focused on drug and alcohol addiction. Treatments are tailored to each client’s needs and may include individual and group counseling, medication management, and related support.

Indigenous & Tribal Programs

American Indian Center of Arkansas

This center offers services to support and empower Native American and Alaska Native communities across the state. These include employment and training opportunities as well as wellness programs focused on mental and physical health, SUD recovery and prevention, and suicide prevention. The multi-disciplinary team of providers delivers an array of services including crisis prevention, individual and group therapy, mental health screenings, life skills and relapse prevention training, employment counseling, and related offerings.

Drug Laws in Arkansas

The Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act of 2021

This law allows healthcare providers in Arkansas to provide addiction medication for SUD treatment, including Suboxone, without the extra step of applying for a waiver from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The Good Samaritan Law

Enacted in 2015, this law allows anyone who calls 911 for emergency help during a drug overdose to be exempt from drug-related charges in any way, even if the caller is personally engaging in drug use.

Naloxone Standing Protocol

Established in 2017, this law gives pharmacists across Arkansas full power to order and administer naloxone to individuals who request it, even without a prescription.

Cocaine Possession Law

According to this law, anyone who possesses fewer than two grams of cocaine can be charged with a Class D felony. Possession of two to 10 grams is a Class C felony, 10 to 200 grams is a Class B felony, and more than 200 grams is automatically categorized as possession with intent to deliver.

Sources

Where do calls go?

Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser: Rehab Media Group, Recovery Helpline, Alli Addiction Services.

By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.