Arkansas drug overdose deaths dropping, outpacing national rate
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The number of reported overdose deaths in Arkansas has dropped faster than the national rate in the latest government report.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention preliminary data shows Arkansas drug overdose deaths declined 13.7% from 2023 compared to 2022. CDC data shows the national rate saw a 5.1% decline for the same period.
Arkansas group introduces app to prevent opioid abuse, overdose
In hard numbers, Arkansas had 510 deaths in 2023, compared to 591 overdose deaths in 2022, according to the CDC report. Nationally, in 2023 there were 103,793 overdose deaths compared to 109,413 in 2022.
Officials with the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership believe this drop at least partially reflects the increasing emphasis on the overdose-reversing drug naloxone, commonly branded as Narcan. Partnership director Kirk Lane said the CDC number reflects the relative success of the partnership’s program.
“This decrease marks a monumental step toward our goal of zero drug overdose deaths,” Lane said. “These numbers spur us on as we work to create a reality where no one else experiences the loss of a child or loved one to opioid misuse.”
Fewer US overdose deaths were reported last year, but experts are still cautious
Partnership officials said it had contributed $2,675,000 toward Narcan distribution to date, with more than 50 community partners selected to distribute 39,384 kits.
Still, agencies sound a cautionary note about the trend. CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. De Houry said that despite the declining death rate, work remains.
“Today’s data showing a decrease in drug overdoses over the 12-month period through December 2023 is heartening news for our nation and demonstrates we are making progress to prevent deaths from drug overdoses,” Houry said, adding, “The data show we still lost over 100,000 people last year; meaning, there are still families and friends losing their loved ones to drug overdoses at staggering numbers.”
Students train to use overdose reversal spray as part of new Arkansas law
Other experts are cautioning, pointing out that a decline may not be sustainable. Brown University researcher Brandon Marshall told the Associated Press that despite the encouraging downturn, it was too early to draw any long-term conclusions.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
