Substance Misuse Education and Prevention

What Is Substance Misuse?

Substance misuse is a serious public health issue in Arkansas. According to provisional data from the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Vital Statistics, in 2025, there were 372 drug overdose deaths in Arkansas, a decrease from 389 deaths in 2024. The Substance Misuse Education and Prevention Section at the Arkansas Department of Health was established in the fall of 2017 to help address the opioid epidemic and substance misuse.

Substance Misuse Education and Prevention

Substance misuse is a serious public health issue in Arkansas. According to provisional data from the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Vital Statistics, in 2024, there were 389 drug overdose deaths in Arkansas, a decrease from 516 deaths in 2023. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 806,000 people died from an opioid overdose (involving prescription and illegal opioids) from 1999-2023. The Substance Misuse Education and Prevention Section at the Arkansas Department of Health was established in the fall of 2017 to help address the opioid epidemic and substance misuse.

Reports

• Substance Misuse Data Dashboards

2023

• Fatal Overdose
• Nonfatal Overdose
• EMS Naloxone Administrations

2022: 

• Fatal Overdose
• Nonfatal Overdose
• EMS Naloxone Administrations

Education and Prevention Programs

• Peer Recovery Support Specialists
• Naloxone Training/Distribution
• Healthcare Provider Education

Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Drug Overdose
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• Arkansas Poison Center
• AR Rx Take Back
• StartYourRecovery.org
• Substance Abuse Prevention – Arkansas Department of Human Services

Contact Information

Substance Misuse & Injury Prevention
4815 West Markham Street, Slot 10
Little Rock, AR  72205
Phone: 501-683-0707
Fax: 501-682-0427
[email protected]