More than 1,000 lives have been saved through the Arkansas Naloxone Project, which provides Naloxone (often referred by the brand name Narcan) kits to first responders across the state. Beyond saving a life, first responders are tasked to provide treatment and recovery resources, and the data advances education efforts about opioid addiction in Arkansas.

The number one priority is to save that person’s life and it’s not just the humanity aspect of why we do this,” said Arkansas Drug Director Kirk Lane, who works with the Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services. “Keeping people breathing that have overdosed for whatever reason gives that person a second chance to seek treatment and recovery. With recovery capabilities available now in the state, sustaining sobriety is a reality.”

The Arkansas Naloxone Project kicked off October 2016 with the training of law enforcement agencies, rural fire and EMS organizations, school nurses, librarians, and treatment and recovery facilities, on how to correctly administer naloxone. At the end of the training, they received naloxone kits, which included a nasal form of naloxone called Narcan, an FDA-approved medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid-induced overdose.

The Arkansas Naloxone Project is a partnership among the State Drug Director’s Office, DHS, and the Criminal Justice Institute along with hundreds of trained first responders. The kits are funded through federal grants and private grants like the Arkansas Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas. Additionally, in 2020, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson issued a standing order allowing Arkansas-licensed pharmacists to sell naloxone to people who have friends and loved ones at risk of overdosing, and Arkansas Code Annotated 20-13-604 provides immunity from civil liability to those who administer naloxone during an overdose.

“Too many families in Arkansas have experienced the loss of a loved one due to an opioid overdose,” said Criminal Justice Director Dr. Cheryl May. “By equipping first responders with naloxone, additional lives can be saved, and families can be spared this loss.”

To help people administer the medication, the State Drug Director’s Office and Criminal Justice Institute created the nARcansas app, which is a free opioid overdose resource that provides steps on how to administer a life-saving dose of naloxone as well as other valuable resources about opioids. The app includes voice directions in English and Spanish for administering naloxone. To download the app, go Google Play or the Apple App Store. To learn more about the State’s efforts to combat opioid abuse, go to ardrugtakeback.org. To get mental health or addiction help for yourself or a loved one in Arkansas, please call 1-844-763-0198.

Arkansans continue to entrust in the DEA Drug Take Back Day program leading the state to another top 10 completion in multiple categories nationally, including ranking third in grand total pounds per person. The state ranks fifth nationally in pounds per person for the Drug Take Back Day on April 24, 2021, but in the total of all 21 Drug Take Back Day events, the state ranks third in pounds per person, behind first-place Maine and second-place Wisconsin.

Arkansas ranks fifth in the amount of law enforcement agencies (207) who participated in the April 24, 2021, Drug Take Back Day, an increase from 197 and sixth rank during the October 24, 2020, Drug Take Back Day event. The state ranks 15^th in the number of collection sites (131) for the April 24, 2021, Drug Take Back Day, an increase of five spots from the 20^th rank during the October 2020 Drug Take Back Day, which the DEA totaled 91 sites (the DEA statistic doesn’t include the 270 permanent drop box locations where many Drug Take Back Day events were held.)

Arkansas totaled 28,705 pounds (14.35 tons) of mediations collected from the April 24, 2021, Drug Take Back Day, which is 9^th nationally. In all 21 Drug Take Back events dating back to September 25, 2010, Arkansas has collected 442,162 pounds (221 tons) and consecutively ranks in the top 15 in numerous Drug Take Back Day event categories, despite ranking 34^th in U.S. population (based on the 2020 U.S. Census).

Nationally, the U.S. collected 839,543 pounds (420 tons) of medications on April 24, 2021. Since 2010, the DEA Drug Take Back Day program has collected 14,524,391 pounds (7,262 tons) of medications. A total of 4,425 law enforcement agencies participated nationally in the April 24, 2021, Drug Take Back Day and there were 5,060 collection sites nationwide, according to the DEA.

Arkansas continues to lead the four-state DEA region (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi) accounting for 63% of medications collected during the April 24, 2021, Drug Take Back Day and 65% total of all 21 Drug Take Back Day events. Arkansas also averages more participating law enforcement agencies than the other three states combined.

All medications collected are destroyed at environmentally safe facilities across the United States. Prescription medicines are toxic waste and pose a danger to people, pets, and the environment if they are not disposed of properly. Medicines flushed or poured down the drain ends up in the waterways, affecting our drinking water. More than half of the 444 reported drug overdose deaths in Arkansas in 2018 involved opioid medications and more than 70,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2019. Always monitor and secure all medications, and when they are ready to be disposed of, do so in an environmentally safe method by taking them to any of the 270 permanent drop box locations in Arkansas. To find a location, visit ardrugtakeback.org, click on the Collection Sites tab and enter a zip code.

Arkansas Drug Take Back Day History

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), as part of its National Drug Control Strategy, called for an increase of prescription drug return and disposal programs to curb prescription drug abuse. In early 2010, a coalition led by the State Drug Director, the Attorney General, both Arkansas Districts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and numerous federal, local, and state agencies, prevention professionals, and private organizations, launched an ongoing education program to encourage everyone to “Monitor, Secure, and Dispose” their prescription medications.

As part of the “Monitor, Secure, and Dispose” effort, the coalition organized Arkansas’s participation in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Take-Back Initiative, and take back events took place on September 25, 2010; April 30, 2011; October 29, 2011; April 28, 2012; September 29, 2012; April 27, 2013; October 26, 2013; April 26, 2014; and September 27, 2014.   DEA announced the discontinuation of the national initiative in September 2014, but an Arkansas Drug Take Back Day event under the leadership of partners within the state was held on April 25, 2015. The DEA then reinstated the program nationally on September 26, 2015, and participates semi-annually since 2016 with Drug Take Back Day events held in April and October.

Due to the commitment, dedication, and effort of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Community, its partners, and the multi-agency coalition, and due to excellent participation by Arkansans in all areas of the state, the take back events have been successful above and beyond all expectations.

National Comparison (all Drug Take Back Day events):

• Arkansas ranks #3 nationally in pounds collected per capita with 0.147 pounds per person. Maine ranks #1 with 0.352 pounds per person and Wisconsin ranks #2 at 0.149 pounds per person.1
• Arkansas is 34^th in population and ranks #12 in total weight collected with 442,162 pounds (221 tons).¹
• The four-state DEA region consisting of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi has a total weight of 675,451 pounds for all Drug Take Back Day events. Arkansas, despite being the least populated of the four, accounted for 65% of the total weight and averages more participating law enforcement agencies than the other three states combined.

Drug Take Back Day event #21 only:

• Arkansas ranks #9 nationally in weight collected (Top 10: Texas, Wisconsin, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Arkansas, and Missouri, respectively)
• Arkansas ranks #5 per capita (Top 10: Maine, Vermont, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa, Delaware, Alaska, and Missouri, respectively)
• Arkansas ranks #6 in the number of law enforcement agencies participation.
• Arkansas ranks #16 in the number of collection sites (the DEA statistic doesn’t include the 270 permanent drop box locations where many Drug Take Back Day events were held.)

¹ Determined using 2020 census estimates. ² Determined using data supplied by the National DEA.

Local Comparison

Weight Collected Per Law Enforcement Agency (Take Back 21 only):

1. Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office ranks #1 with 3,510 pounds collected.
2. Garland County Sheriff’s Office ranks #2 with 2,000 pounds collected.
3. Washington County Sheriff’s Office ranks #3 with 1,436 pounds collected.
4. Benton Police Department ranks #4 with 1,112 pounds collected.
5. North Little Rock Police Department ranks #5 with 892 pounds collected.

Honorable mention: Gentry Police Department ranks #6 with 831 pounds collected.

What: 20^th Arkansas Prescription Drug Take Back Day (partnership with the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day)

When: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, April 24, 2021

Where: At secure collection sites statewide; full list at https://ardrugtakeback.org/take-back/collection-sites/

The Arkansas Drug Take Back Day returns for an 11^th year with nearly 300 sites across the state for residents to dispose of expired or unused medications. Prescription medicines are a toxic waste and pose a danger to people, pets, and the environment if they are not disposed of properly. Medicines flushed or poured down the drain end up in the waterways, affecting our drinking water.

More than half of the 444 reported drug overdose deaths in Arkansas in 2018 involved opioid medications and more than 70,000 Americans died from overdoses in 2019. But there is something we can all do to reduce these deaths. Monitor and secure all medications at all times, and when they are ready to be disposed, do so in an environmentally save method – take them to any of the 250-plus permanent drug take back boxes throughout Arkansas or join us for the 20^th Arkansas Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, 2021. To find locations throughout the state, go to ardrugtakeback.org and click the Collection Sites tab.

“Arkansas remains the second highest opioid prescribing rate in the nation, which makes this program partnership with the DEA critical for keeping state residents safe and healthy,” said Arkansas Drug Director Kirk Lane. “Getting all those unneeded and expired medications out of medicine cabinets, or anywhere they are stored in the home, to a Take Back Day event site ultimately will save lives by keeping them out of the hands of those who will misuse them. This program also keeps them out of the water supply, as we’ll have them destroyed in an environmentally safe method at a local facility.”

The prescription medications will later be counted for statistical purposes and destroyed at a facility in an environmentally safe manner. Disposing of expired or unused medications at a Prescription Drug Take Back Day event or permanent drop box protects our health, environment, communities, and it saves lives.

Throwing medications in the trash, even if they are mixed with materials such as kitty litter or coffee grounds, will still make it to a landfill and seep through the soil and into ground water. There’s also a danger of people and/or pets finding medications in the home – The Animal Poison Control Center said 17 percent of pet poisoning calls in 2020 were attributed to over-the-counter medications and 15 percent of calls was attributed to human prescription medications.

Arkansas has remained in the top 15 in the amount of medications collected since the first DEA National Drug Take Back Day event started on Sept. 25, 2010. Though the state is 33^rd in population with slightly more than 3 million people, Arkansas ranks 2nd nationally in pounds collected per capita and 9th in total weight collected. The Arkansas Department of Human Services and the Office of the State Drug Director thank all Federal, State, and local agency partners as well as the community organizations and public health providers who continually make Arkansas’s Drug Take Back Day one of the foremost prevention programs in the state.

Two-thirds of teenagers & young adults who report abuse of prescription medications say they get the majority of the medications from friends, family & acquaintances.

• DON’T leave medication bottles or pill cases lying around
• DON’T store medicines in an unsecured medicine cabinet or bathroom drawer
• DON’T ignore warning signs (Ex: bottles tampered with, pills missing or drugged behavior of someone in your home)
• DO lock up medications in a lock box or hide them in a safe place
• DO keep track of medications – count pills, make marks on liquid containers
• DO keep track of refills – refilling medicine more often than expected can indicate a problem
• DO encourage relatives, friends & neighbors to monitor medications & participate in the Arkansas Drug Take Back Day.

To find AR Drug Take Back Day locations throughout the state, go to ardrugtakeback.org and click the Collection Sites tab (https://ardrugtakeback.org/take-back/collection-sites/ ) and type in your zip code. The site will continue to update locations throughout the month until the event date. While there, be sure to download the nARcansas app- a free resource containing tools to administer naloxone, an opioid antagonist, in the moment of an opioid overdose and continued steps to save a person’s life. Though it should be used in an emergency situation only, Naloxone has no effect on non-opioid overdoses. The nARcansas app was created in a partnership with the Office of Arkansas Drug Director, Criminal Justice Institute, Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services and Team Si. Naloxone is available for purchase by the public at pharmacies throughout Arkansas.

More information: Prescription medicines pose a danger to people, pets, and the environment if the medications are not disposed of properly. Since 2010, Arkansas Prescription Drug Take Back events have provided a safe way to collect and destroy these medications. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) organizes national Drug Take Back events semi-annually. Hundreds of Arkansas agencies have come together to partner with the DEA hosting Take Back Days in Arkansas to curb prescription drug abuse. In ten years of the program, more than 206 tons have been destroyed in an environmentally safe manner. The Arkansas Department of Human Services and the Office of the State Drug Director thank all Federal, State, and local agency partners as well as the community organizations and public health providers who continually make Arkansas’s Drug Take Back Day one of the foremost prevention programs in the state.

Natural State Recovery Centers (NSRC) has just opened the only drug and alcohol addiction treatment center in Arkansas to offer all levels of care, treating people from crisis to sustainability.  It is no secret that Arkansas, along with other states in the southern region of the United States are lacking the levels of care that are necessary for treating drug and alcohol addiction. Natural State Recovery is on a mission to change that by transforming the former Oak Grove High School Campus in North Little Rock. With the addition of detox and residential services, NSRC will be a full-service program assisting families and their loved ones in the pursuit of recovery from addiction.

The goal at NSRC is to remove the many barriers adults face when putting their lives back together by offering a holistic approach to addiction treatment. An important part of the rehabilitation program is that they provide these and other necessary tools for their clients’ lasting recovery. The team at NSRC completely understands what it takes to recover from addiction. In fact, many of the team members can personally relate to their clients by virtue of having gone through the ongoing process of recovery, themselves. “When we normalize the conversation surrounding addiction, people will feel more comfortable seeking help. The quicker we can change how we view addiction, the sooner we can eliminate unnecessary judgements on people who simply need help. Individuals seeking treatment are not bad people trying to get good, they are sick people trying to get well,” says CEO, Christopher Dickie.

You will immediately notice some features that set them apart from other providers:

• All levels of care in one place: Medical Detox, Residential, Outpatient and Sober Living
• Nationally accredited and State licensed
• Highly trained and passionate medical staff 24/7
• Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (Suboxone and Vivitrol) for those who qualify
• Yoga/ Meditation and Fitness/ Nutrition focused
• Life Skills and Vocational Training
• Peer Support Specialists

For those interested in seeking help, please call (501) 319-7074 or visit our website at www.naturalstaterecovery.com

A 2-year-old boy’s life was saved by the quick actions of Texarkana police officers Sunday night. Texarkana Interim Police Chief Kristi Bennett credits the continued training of officers and naloxone kits, both of which were provided by the Criminal Justice Institute, Blue and You Foundation, and the Office of Arkansas Drug Director.

“This incident reveals the importance of officers having the training and resources available to them during these types of situations,” Bennett said. “Officer (Marcos) Luna’s quick thinking and assessment of the situation, along with his training ultimately saved this child’s life. I could not be more proud of Officer Luna and the job he did!”

Just before 10 p.m. Sunday, February 14, 2021, emergency responders were called to an apartment complex on Links Drive. Upon arrival, a 2-year-old boy was found on a couch losing conscience. The mother told officers that she had placed a 10mg Percocet on the counter, but did not see the child take it. She reported seeing the boy “chewing on something white and foamed around his mouth” and called 911 after noticing the boy lose consciousness. The report said she later found a partially consumed pill.

While emergency personnel provided stimuli to the child, Officer Luna grabbed a Naloxone kit and administered one dosage in the child’s right nostril. A few seconds later, the child regained consciousness.

“He proceeded to sit up and act cranky, but otherwise normal,” Officer Luna reported.

The child was later transferred to Wadley Regional Medical Center for further evaluation.

“I am so proud of the heroes from the Texarkana Police Department,” said Arkansas Drug Director Kirk Lane. “This incident not only demonstrates the importance of being equipped with Naloxone, but also of our Drug Take Back program that educates Arkansans to monitor, secure, and safely dispose of their medications.”

Naloxone, an opioid antagonist, is a medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid-induced overdose. Though it should be used in an emergency situation (a suspected opioid overdose), Naloxone has no effect on non-opioid overdoses. Naloxone is available for purchase at some pharmacies throughout Arkansas. Prescription medicines pose a danger to people, pets, and the environment if the medications are not disposed of properly. The Office of the Arkansas Drug Director works closely with the DEA in the coordination of this growing coalition, and in maintaining the Artakeback.org website.

One key to its success is the ability to have permanent collection boxes located at key locations throughout Arkansas communities. This allows the public to dispose of their unwanted medications throughout the year. Currently, Arkansas has more than 250 permanent collection boxes, with at least one in every county in Arkansas. The state ranks second in the nation for over-prescribing opioid medications at 114.6 opioid prescriptions per 100 people (the national average is 66.5 prescriptions per 100 people). There’s more prescriptions in Arkansas than people.

Arkansans can visit ardrugtakeback.org/take-back/collection-sites to find Drug Take Back locations throughout the state.

The 10-year anniversary of the Arkansas Drug Take Back Day set a new record for prescription medications collected with nearly 20 tons for 2020. It moved Arkansas from number 13^th nationally in 2019 to 7^th nationally on October 24, 2020.

Arkansas has remained in the top 15 in the amount of medications collected since the first DEA National Drug Take Back Day event started on Sept. 25, 2010. Though the state is 33^rd in population with slightly more than 3 million people, Arkansas ranks 2nd nationally in pounds collected per capita and 9th in total weight collected. On October 24, 2020, 38,960 pounds of medications was collected, which equals 19.48 tons. Since the first Arkansas Drug Take Back Day on September 25, 2010, a total of 413,457 pounds of medications have been collected, which equals 206.73 tons through 10 years. Nationally, to date, 13,684,848 pounds or 6,842.4 tons of medications has been collected.

Arkansas ranked 6^th nationally in the amount of law enforcement agencies participating in the semi-annual Drug Take Back Day with 197 agencies, and ranked 21st in the number of Drug Take Back Day collection sites with 91 DEA registered locations (the statistic doesn’t include the 254 permanent drop box locations where many take back day events were held.)

Arkansas continues to lead the four-state DEA region (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi) accounting for 65% of all the medications collected. Arkansas also averages more participating law enforcement agencies than the other three states combined.

Arkansas Drug Take Back Day History

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), as part of its National Drug Control Strategy, called for an increase of prescription drug return and disposal programs as a means to curbing prescription drug abuse. In early 2010, a coalition led by the State Drug Director, the Attorney General, both Arkansas Districts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and numerous federal, local, and state agencies, prevention professionals, and private organizations, launched an ongoing education program to encourage everyone to “Monitor, Secure, and Dispose” their prescription medications.

As part of the “Monitor, Secure, and Dispose” effort, the coalition organized Arkansas’s participation in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Take-Back Initiative, and take back events took place on September 25, 2010, April 30, 2011, October 29, 2011, April 28, 2012, September 29, 2012, April 27, 2013, October 26, 2013,  April 26, 2014, and September 27, 2014.   DEA announced the discontinuation of the national initiative in September 2014, but an Arkansas take back event under the leadership of partners within the state was held on April 25, 2015.   DEA then reinstated the program nationally, and events since have been held on September 26, 2015, April 30, 2016, October 22, 2016, April 29, 2017, October 28, 2017, April 28,2018, October 27, 2018, April 27,2019, and October 26, 2019. [DISCLAIMER: **Collectively, there have been 18 total Arkansas Drug Take Back Day events, and 17 national events. Results from the State Take Back in Spring 2015 were rolled into the total results for National Take Back 10 held September 26, 2015.]

Due to the commitment, dedication, and effort of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Community, its partners, and the multi-agency coalition, and due to excellent participation by Arkansans in all areas of the state, the take back events have been successful above and beyond all expectations.

The 19th Drug Take Back Day resulted in a total medications collection of 985,392 pounds (492.7 tons) nationally and 19.48 tons in Arkansas. The grand total of all Drug Take Back Day events resulted in 13,684,848 pounds (6,842.4 tons) nationally, and 413,457 pounds (206.73 tons) in Arkansas.

STATISTICAL INFORMATION – National Comparison:

• Including all 19 events:
• Arkansas ranked #2 nationally in pounds collected per capita with 0.142 pounds per person. Maine ranked 1^st with 0.31 pounds per person and Wisconsin ranked 3rd at 0.128 pounds per person.1
• Despite being thirty-third in population among all states, Arkansas ranked #9 in total weight¹
• Arkansas ranked 7^th in the amount of law enforcement agency participation with 197. Wisconsin ranked 1^st with 270 agencies. Nationally, 4,153 law enforcement agencies participated.²
• Arkansas ranked 21st in the number of DEA registered collection sites (doesn’t include the 254 permanent drop box locations where many take back day events were held.) Wisconsin ranked 1^st with 290 and Ohio ranked 2^nd with 266.
• The four-state DEA region consisting of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi pooled a total weight of 60,168 pounds for the 19^th Drug Take Back Day and 629,848 pounds for all 19 Drug Take Back Day events. Arkansas, despite being the least populated of the four, accounted for 65% of the total weight and averages more participating law enforcement agencies than the other three states combined.

For Take Back 19, only:

• Arkansas ranked #7 nationally in weight collected (Top 10: Wisconsin, Texas, Ohio, California, Massachusetts, Maine, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, respectively)
• Ranked 2nd per capita. Maine ranked #1.
• Ranked 7th in the number of Law Enforcement Agency participation.

¹ Determined using 2017 census estimates.

² Determined using data supplied by the National DEA.

STATISTICAL INFORMATION – Local Comparison

Weight Collected Per Law Enforcement Agency (Take Back 19 only):

1. Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office ranked #1 with 1,861 pounds collected.
2. Independence County Sheriff’s Office ranked #2 with 1,051 pounds collected.
3. North Little Rock Department ranked #3 with 842 pounds collected.
4. Baxter County Sheriff’s Office ranked #4 with 631 pounds collected.
5. Benton Police Department ranked #5 with 490 pounds collected.

WHAT: The Drug Enforcement Administration, joined by the U.S. Postal Service and Miss America 2020 Camille Schrier, will hold a dedication ceremony for the release of the Drug Free USA Forever stamp, coinciding with Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23-31, to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and promote drug abuse prevention.

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. EDT

WHERE: DEA Headquarters, 700 Army Navy Dr., Auditorium, Rm #300, Arlington, VA
The ceremony will also be livestreamed on the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

WHO: Timothy J. Shea, DEA Acting Administrator; Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Postal Service; Camille Schrier, Miss America 2020; and Peggy Sapp, National Family Partnership President.

MEDIA AVAIL: AA Shea will be available, upon request, for in-person, one-on-one interviews immediately following the ceremony.
News media wishing to attend must RSVP to [email protected] in order to allow for social distancing protocols.

BACKGROUND:

The Drug Free USA Forever stamp features original artwork by Aaron Draplin. The image of a white star with lines of red, light blue and blue radiating from one side of each of the star’s five points suggests the unity that is necessary at all levels to effectively address drug abuse. The stamp’s background is dark blue. “Drug Free USA” appears above the stamp art, while the stamp’s denomination, “Forever,” appears below it. The year 2020 runs vertically along the bottom right corner of the image. The Drug Free USA stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Greg Breeding designed the stamp and was also the typographer. William J. Gicker was the art director.
Red Ribbon Week, which takes place in schools and communities nationwide every year from Oct. 23-31, helps parents as well as teachers, business owners and neighborhood organizations promote drug abuse awareness and prevention. Red Ribbon Week was started by high school students in California following the murder of DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in Mexico in 1985.
Participants wear a red ribbon or red to symbolize their dedication to preventing drug abuse. The annual campaign is sponsored by the National Family Partnership.
News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #DrugFreeStamp.
For a toolkit with Red Ribbon materials and more information on how to participate in Red Ribbon events, visit the Red Ribbon Campaign page on www.dea.gov.
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What: Arkansans are invited to celebrate ten years of protecting their families, their neighbors, and the environment by bringing unused or expired medications to more than 250 secure drop-off locations statewide.

When: Saturday, October 24, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Where: At secure collection sites statewide; full list on ardrugtakeback.org

More Info:

Prescription medicines pose a danger to people, pets, and the environment if the medications are not disposed of properly. For ten years, Arkansas Prescription Drug Take Back events have provided a safe way to collect and destroy these medications.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) organizes national Drug Take Back events semi-annually. Hundreds of Arkansas agencies have come together to partner with the DEA hosting Take Back Days in Arkansas to curb prescription drug abuse. In the past nine years, more than 187 tons of medications have been collected, and Arkansas is on track to exceed 200 tons on its 10^th anniversary collection on October 24.

Arkansans can visit ardrugtakeback.org/take-back/collection-sites to find a list of over 250 secure Drug Take Back locations throughout the state and bring their unused or expired medications to a site this Saturday.

In observation of this 10^th anniversary event, the Arkansas Department of Human Services and the Office of the State Drug Director thank all Federal, State, and local agency partners as well as the community organizations and public health providers who continually make Arkansas’s Drug Take Back Day one of the foremost prevention programs in the state.

(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) — Prescriptions for highly addictive opioids have decreased over the last three years for Arkansans with Medicaid and private insurance coverage, according to a new analysis.

The State also is seeing an increase in prescriptions for the anti-overdose drug naloxone for those who were prescribed high-dose opioids during that time, the analysis showed. That prescription is important because anyone who uses opioids, especially for long-term pain management, is at risk of a deadly opioid overdose. Those deaths are on the rise across the country but can be prevented by administering naloxone.

“We still have work to do, but we are making progress,” said State Drug Director Kirk Lane. “Arkansas has the second-highest opioid prescribing rate in the nation, so I’m pleased to see opioid prescriptions trending downward and access to life-saving naloxone trending upward.”

The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) reviewed prescription data for people with Medicaid or private insurance coverage from state fiscal years 2017 through 2019. ACHI found that the number of people with opioid prescriptions dropped from 379,687 in fiscal year 2017 to 268,241 in fiscal year 2019, a decrease of 29 percent.

ACHI also found that the number of people with opioid prescriptions of 50 or more morphine milligram equivalents, or MME, per day who also received naloxone prescriptions has increased each year since fiscal year 2017. From fiscal years 2018 to 2019, the number rose from 589 to 1,556, an increase of 164%. The number of people with opioid prescriptions of 90 or more MME per day who also received naloxone prescriptions rose from 501 to 1,108, an increase of 103%.

Despite these increases, the percentage of people who received both high-dose opioid prescriptions and naloxone prescriptions was only 2.93% for people with prescriptions of 50 or more MME per day and 5.35% for people with prescriptions of 90 or more MME per day in fiscal year 2019.

“These percentages are low, and we need to get them higher, but Arkansas is moving in the right direction,” said ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson. “I applaud the Arkansas General Assembly for passing legislation to make the life-saving drug naloxone more available to those at risk.”

Lane, who works with the Department of Human Services Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services, said that Act 284 of 2017 authorizes pharmacists to order, dispense, and administer naloxone under a standing prescription and order from the Arkansas Department of Health.

Data used in the analysis were from the Arkansas All-Payer Claims Database, part of the Arkansas Healthcare Transparency Initiative.

Other findings include:

• One naloxone prescription was dispensed for every 34 individuals with opioid prescriptions of 50 or more MME per day in fiscal year 2019.
• One naloxone prescription was dispensed for every 19 individuals with opioid prescriptions of 90 or more MME per day in fiscal year 2019.
• Pharmacists authorized 1,130 out of 3,137 naloxone prescriptions, or 36 percent, in fiscal year 2019.

View a data brief and two infographics containing the findings on ACHI’s website at https://achi.net/newsroom/achi-analyzes-trends-in-naloxone-prescription/.