Arkansas Statewide Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Program is the first major federal substance use disorder treatment and recovery legislation in 40 years and the most comprehensive effort to address the opioid epidemic. CARA establishes a comprehensive, coordinated, and balanced strategy through enhanced grant programs that expand prevention and education efforts while also promoting treatment and recovery. The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based program was developed as part of the CARA legislation signed into law on July 22, 2016.

The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program aims to reduce opioid abuse and the number of overdose fatalities, as well as to mitigate the impacts on crime victims. The program also supports the implementation, enhancement, and proactive use of prescription drug monitoring programs to support clinical decision making and prevent the abuse and diversion of controlled substances.

The statewide planning, coordination, and implementation projects are designed to support initiatives jointly planned and implemented by the State Administering Agency (SAA) responsible for directing criminal justice planning and the Single State Agency (SSA) for Substance Abuse Services. This category contains two subcategories of funding. Subcategory 4a funds the development of a coordinated plan between the SAA and SSA to assist localities in engaging and retaining offenders who abuse illicit or prescription opioids in treatment and recovery services; increase the use of diversion; and/or reduce the incidence of overdose death. Subcategory 4b enables the awardee to provide financial support to localities or a region to implement the strategies in the plan developed as part of subcategory 4a.

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration proposes to develop a statewide comprehensive opioid abuse plan that will include goals, objectives, and strategies that addresses opioid include abuse and misuse. The goals is to develop resources, recommend evidence-based practices, and create online tools that will aid Arkansas communities in reducing opioid abuse/misuse and related deaths and assist offenders with a history of opioid abuse. To meet the proposed objectives, the planning process will be facilitated by the planning consultant and consist of collaboration and partnerships from across state agencies and local entities. The partners for this project include the Department of Human Services/State Drug Director, the state agency responsible for alcohol and substance abuse services. Partner agencies include the Department of Human Services/Office of the State Drug Director, representatives from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program (HIDTA), Administrative Office of the Courts, Arkansas Community Corrections (ACC): Probation and Parole, Department of Human Services: Child Welfare, Governor’s Office-Senior Advisor for Child Welfare, Arkansas Sheriff’s Association, Arkansas Chief’s Association, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Arkansas Foundation For Medical Care (AFMC), Arkansas Municipal League (an association of city/county governments), City of El Dorado, and City of Marianna. When the plan has been finalized and approved, the state will move towards the implementation phase. The state anticipates providing up to twenty-five (25) sub awards to localities/communities. The localities/communities will be trained, will utilize developed resources, implement strategies identified in the comprehensive plan, and become designated opioid task forces.

CA/NCF