Arkansas has the highest opioid dispensing rate in the United States, with 68.8 prescriptions written for every 100 people in 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That figure is nearly double the national average of 35.4 and underscores a persistent challenge in the state’s response to the opioid crisis: pain management.
E. Scot Davis, a guest columnist for the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, argues that while much of the national conversation focuses on addiction treatment and holding pharmaceutical companies accountable, Arkansas has a unique opportunity to lead the next phase of recovery by rethinking how chronic and acute pain are treated.
“The next phase of America’s recovery will be defined not only by how we help people break their dependency on opioids, but also how we approach and manage the root cause of the crisis: debilitating pain,” Davis writes.
The state’s high prescribing rate has declined from its peak, but it remains among the top in the country. Davis suggests Arkansas could serve as a model for responsible pain care by investing in alternative therapies, expanding access to non-opioid treatments, and training medical professionals in multimodal pain management strategies.
Such an approach aligns with efforts already underway at institutions like the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, which has hosted forums on rural health and substance use disorders. The institute, based in Morrilton, works closely with state agencies and community organizations to develop policy recommendations and educational programs aimed at reducing opioid misuse.
In his opinion piece, Davis highlights examples of successful non-opioid interventions, including physical therapy, acupuncture, and behavioral health services. He calls for increased funding for research into these methods and better integration of pain management into primary care settings.
“Arkansas is uniquely positioned to lead that important mindset shift,” Davis writes. “We have the chance to show the rest of the country how to treat pain without creating new addictions.”
State health officials have begun to emphasize prevention and treatment programs that reduce reliance on prescription medications. In 2024, the Arkansas Department of Health launched a pilot program offering telehealth consultations for patients managing chronic pain. The initiative connects patients in rural areas with pain specialists and provides access to mental health support and physical therapy resources.
Dr. Sarah Thompson, director of the Chronic Pain Management Initiative at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, said the state’s rural geography makes it especially critical to adopt innovative care models. “Many Arkansans live hours away from a pain clinic,” she said. “If we’re going to change how pain is treated, we have to bring services to where people are.”
The economic impact of opioid misuse in Arkansas remains substantial. A 2023 report by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration estimated that the crisis cost the state $1.2 billion in healthcare expenses, criminal justice involvement, and lost productivity. That burden falls disproportionately on rural counties, where access to addiction treatment and pain specialists is limited.
Local leaders in Northwest Arkansas have also taken steps to address the issue. In Bentonville, the Community Foundation of Northwest Arkansas has funded a regional coalition focused on reducing opioid prescriptions while improving access to alternative therapies. The group works with employers, schools, and healthcare providers to promote safe prescribing practices and educate the public about non-addictive pain management options.
Davis’ commentary comes as federal funding for opioid settlement programs begins to flow to states. Arkansas is expected to receive more than $300 million over the next 18 years from Purdue Pharma and other companies involved in the opioid litigation. How the state allocates those funds could shape the trajectory of its recovery efforts.
“We have a choice,” Davis writes. “We can keep treating symptoms, or we can start addressing the source. Arkansas has the tools and the talent to lead the way.”
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
