CDC statistics show overdose deaths decreasing in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – According to new CDC statistics, overdoses kill more than 100,000 people a year in the U.S., but that number is changing.

Arkansas is one of a handful of states seeing a near 16% decline in overdose deaths in the last year.

Michelle Strahan with the Serenity Park Recovery Center, a fentanyl overdose survivor, is working to use her experiences to save lives.

“I had a firsthand experience of going through treatment and getting sober, relapsing and going through an overdose,” she said

She noted drug addiction awareness has increased over the years

“There’s so many more resources than there were before,” Strahan said.

Strahan said Narcan becoming more widely available as well as fentanyl testing strips have contributed to the decline in deaths.

Arkansas legislators took things a step further passing the Fentanyl Enforcement Accountability Act in 2023, making delivering a controlled substance that kills another person a felony offense.

Serenity Park Recovery Center Clinical Operation Specialist Josh Foster, who is also in recovery, said the increased consequences are important.

“Beforehand there was no consequence to that so if you didn’t know who you were getting your supply from, you didn’t really care,” Foster said.

Now fentanyl trafficking can result in a sentence of up to 60 years or a life sentence along with a $1 million fine, something Foster said has changed things drastically.

“It’s very rewarding and very purposeful,” Foster said. “It’s a fight we can win if we keep fighting.”

The CDC’s new statistics on overdose deaths in Arkansas as well as other states can be found at CDC.gov .

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