Updated Drug and Alcohol Statistics for Arkansas

Arkansas has experienced significant shifts in drug and alcohol misuse over the last two decades. From changing methamphetamine trends to improvements in alcohol use disorder rates, the data offers a comprehensive look at how substance use impacts communities across the state.

This article provides an up-to-date presentation of statistics on drug and alcohol misuse in Arkansas, focusing on prevalence rates, demographic disparities, and changing patterns over time. By focusing on clear, data-driven points, our goal is to make these findings easy to reference, understand, and share.

Key Points at a Glance

Below are several noteworthy statistics that highlight core trends in Arkansas:

• 24.6% annual average past-year marijuana use among individuals 12+ between 2002–2004 and 2017–2019
• 21.7 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people in 2022 (slightly above national average of 21.6)
• 4.1% of adults reported past-year methamphetamine use in 2022
• 71.7 opioid prescriptions per 100 persons in 2022 (second-highest rate in the nation)

The statistics above provide a concise view of some key issues within Arkansas. The sections below delve deeper into historical patterns, demographics, and other substance-specific details.

Historical Substance Use Patterns

Understanding how substance use has evolved over time can clarify which areas require the most attention.

• Methamphetamine use surged, placing Arkansas in the third-highest national position by 2022
• 33% of federal drug-related sentences involved methamphetamine, compared to the 14% U.S. average
• Prescription opioid rates remained high, at 71.7 per 100 people in 2022, versus 46.8 nationally
• Alcohol use disorder (AUD) among adults 18–25 dropped from 17.4% (2002–2004) to 6.5% (2017–2019)

These shifts reflect how methamphetamine replaced other substances in priority for law enforcement and treatment interventions. While opioid prescriptions remained elevated, interventions have influenced use disorder rates.

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Demographic Breakdowns

Data by age group and region helps clarify how different populations experience substance misuse.

• 25.15% of young adults (18–25) met criteria for any substance use disorder (SUD), nearly double the statewide average
• Adolescents aged 12–17 reported a 6.88% SUD rate, with 5.55% needing but not receiving treatment
• Rural counties like Calhoun and Poinsett showed overdose mortality rates over 35 per 100,000, compared to a 21.7 statewide rate
• 19.3% of Arkansans live below the poverty line, which aligns with higher illicit drug use rates

Age-specific vulnerabilities reflect economic stress, employment status, and social environments. In particular, rural residents frequently face greater barriers to treatment.

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Methamphetamine Trends

Methamphetamine remains at the forefront of Arkansas’s drug challenges due to its widespread availability and potent effects.

• 4.1% of adults reported past-year meth use in 2022—around 40% higher than the U.S. average
• An 83% increase in meth-related treatment admissions between 2015 and 2019
• Cross-border supply from Mexico via Texas corridors contributed to steady distribution routes
• Meth offenses accounted for 33% of drug-related federal sentences in Arkansas

Despite ongoing efforts to curb production and trafficking, methamphetamine retains its status as the most persistent illicit substance threat in the state.

Opioid Prescription and Overdose Data

Prescription opioids continue to influence Arkansas’s public health landscape, though some trends show limited improvements.

• Prescription rate was 71.7 per 100 people in 2022, second highest in the nation
• Opioid use disorder affected 2.58% of adults in 2021, roughly on par with U.S. rates
• Overdose death rate peaked at 22.3 per 100,000 in 2021, then declined to 21.7 in 2022
• About 75% of 2021 overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl

Prescribing regulations, naloxone expansion, and targeted interventions contributed to recent stabilization, but high prescription rates still pose a significant risk.

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Alcohol Use Trends

Though still prevalent, alcohol use disorders in Arkansas have generally seen positive declines in certain demographics.

• Prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) among Arkansans 12+ reached 9.43% by 2021
• This was slightly below the national average of 10.1%
• Young adult (18–25) AUD dropped from 17.4% to 6.5% since early 2000s
• Rural areas continue to see limited access to alcohol treatment services

Efforts to reduce binge drinking and underage alcohol use have impacted these numbers, though pockets of high-risk drinking persist in certain regions.

Overdose Mortality and Treatment Access

While Arkansas’s overdose mortality rate remains slightly above the national average, there are signs of recent improvement.

• The 21.7 per 100,000 rate in 2022 outpaced neighboring Louisiana (27.3) and Oklahoma (25.0)
• Preliminary 2023 data show a 13.4% drop in overdose deaths, higher than the 3% national decline
• Only 5.9% of Arkansans with SUD received specialty treatment in 2022, below the 7.2% national figure
• Among young adults needing treatment, 12.63% lacked access

Some regions expanded harm-reduction programs and peer recovery services, contributing to declines in overdose deaths. However, access to treatment outside of urban hubs remains an ongoing issue.

Key Statistics Summary

• Alcohol use disorder among adults 18–25 dropped from 17.4% to 6.5% over two decades
• Methamphetamine use was reported by 4.1% of adults in 2022
• Overdose mortality fell by 13.4% in Arkansas between 2022 and 2023
• Opioid prescriptions remain high at 71.7 per 100 persons
• Only 5.9% of individuals with SUD received specialized treatment in 2022

Arkansas has made gains in reducing alcohol misuse and curbing overdose mortality, but methamphetamine use and elevated opioid prescriptions continue to shape the state’s substance use landscape. Treatment access and economic disparities underscore the importance of data-driven strategies to address unmet needs and ongoing challenges.

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