UA Little Rock Receives $5M to Combat Drug Use Among Arkansas Youth

(UA Little Rock)

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received $5 million in federal funding to address growing drug and opioid use among youth in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Youth Drug-Use Reduction Program will be led by MidSOUTH, a training and education community service unit of the College of Business, Health and Human Services at UA Little Rock, in partnership with national experts, state and local agencies and community stakeholders.

The initiative aims to conduct a statewide assessment and develop an evidence-based, Arkansas-specific curriculum designed to educate young people about the dangers of drug use.

The program hopes to reach 100,000 young people within its first year, with plans to expand as the curriculum is implemented, UA Little Rock said in a news release. MidSOUTH will collaborate with experts and state agencies, aiming to ensure that the campaign effectively addresses the specific needs of Arkansas communities and fosters long-term prevention efforts.

The funding will also provide drug neutralizing agents to citizens to assist in the safe disposal of household medications. An educational campaign will be part of the curriculum to broaden its reach in Arkansas communities. The campaign will also utilize television and social media advertisements to raise awareness about the dangers of drug use, while also providing parents with guidance on how to discuss drug prevention with their children.

“As we face the challenges of opioid misuse, it’s vital to engage our youth in meaningful conversations about prevention and awareness,” Greg Smith, co-director of MidSOUTH, said in a the release. “The funding will help educate youth about what opioids are and the risks associated with their use. Knowledge is our first line of defense. Our goal is to work together with law enforcement, educators, community prevention agencies and other stakeholders to foster a safe environment where our youth can thrive and make choices that promote their well-being.”

The award comes from appropriations language authored by U.S. Sen. John Boozman and passed into law this year. The funding is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. MidSOUTH was awarded the funding due to its experience in drug abuse prevention and training across Arkansas.

The curriculum and training materials created from this funding will be provided at no cost to school districts, law enforcement agencies, nonprofits and other stakeholders.