Expert Insights
Back in 2018, a 16-year-old student at Little Rock Central High School overdosed on heroin. But thanks to a fellow student who was carrying naloxone nasal spray, the 16-year-old survived. Naloxone is known as an anti-overdose medication – and for good reason. With the opioid epidemic currently at its highest peak in Arkansas, it’s important to know that organizations are stepping up to train Little Rock residents on recognizing the signs of opioid overdose and what to do if you encounter someone you suspect has overdosed. The Wolfe Street Foundation, a local addiction recovery resource, received a $14,000 grant from the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership to cover the cost of training all residents to use naloxone nasal spray. This is often one of the only ways to save the lives of loved ones experiencing an opioid overdose, particularly if they’ve overdosed on the deadly opioid known as fentanyl. If you or someone you love is in potential danger of opioid overdose, learning to administer naloxone is essential.
~ Rita Milios
Cost of Drug Rehab in Little Rock
Depending on your level of need, where you want to attend treatment, and how you can pay for care, the cost of drug and alcohol rehab in Little Rock can vary drastically.
Alcohol and Drug Use Statistics for Little Rock, Arkansas
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), overdose deaths related to drugs and alcohol have risen consistently for the past several decades, with rates increasing even higher in recent years:1,2
Drug overdoses in 2020 increased more than four times the amount experienced in 1999 across the state.
And in 2020, 391 people were given Naloxone to prevent an overdose death.
Overdose deaths in Pulaski County rose by 57.6% between 2018 and 2022.
Alcohol overdose deaths rose 68% in the same period.
Drug and Alcohol Laws in Arkansas
Arkansas has many policies, programs, and laws in place to protect people from damage done by drugs and alcohol.
Arkansas Substance Use Prevention Policies: Arkansas has various policies instituted to help prevent drug-related crime and overdose deaths. These policies include ways to allocate state and federal funds to substance use treatment as well as drug education and support groups for community members.12
Naloxone Prescription Law: This Arkansas law enables pharmacists to prescribe naloxone overdose reversal medication in addition to an opiate prescription without a prescription for the naloxone.13 They are also enabled to provide naloxone without a prescription to friends or family members of people who present a risk for opiate overdose. This is to help people at risk of overdose without requiring them to seek a prescription first.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Federal laws under the FMLA apply to every state, requiring most companies with more than 50 employees to provide 12 weeks of unpaid leave to seek medical treatment.14 This rule applies to companies that have enough employees on-site to facilitate allowing a leave, so some rural companies might not be required to follow this rule.
Resources
- FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
- Center for Disease Control. (2022). Arkansas Overdose Prevention Investment Snapshot
- Center for Disease Control. (2022). CDCWonder.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Eligibility.
- Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Substance Abuse: Clinical Issues in Intensive Outpatient Treatment. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); (2006). Chapter 3. Intensive Outpatient Treatment and the Continuum of Care.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. (2022). Treatment Locator.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Medication-Assisted Treatment.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Methadone.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Buprenorphine.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Naltrexone.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2022). Antabuse.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2022). Acamprosate.
- the State of Arkansas. (2022). Substance Abuse Prevention.
- Arizona State Board of Pharmacy. (2022). Naloxone.
- U.S. Department of Labor. (2022). FMLA Frequently Asked Questions.
