The Opioid Prescription Drug and Synthetics Coalition is working to reduce misuse of opioids and prescription drugs. - The Opioid Prescription Drug and Synthetics Coalition (O.P.P.S.), operating under the fiscal leadership of Healing in the Hood, seeks funding through the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Local Drug Crises Program to prevent and reduce youth opioid and prescription drug misuse in Mississippi County, Arkansas. O.P.P.S. serves youth ages 12–18, parents, caregivers, and community members residing primarily in Blytheville (72315) and Gosnell (72319), two rural communities facing significant opioid-related challenges. The coalition utilizes the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and the Seven Strategies for Community Change to implement comprehensive, community-level prevention efforts that address local conditions contributing to youth opioid and prescription drug misuse. Mississippi County continues to experience a substantial opioid burden. Between 2023 and 2025, the county recorded 336 non-fatal overdoses and 34 fatal overdoses, while emergency responders administered naloxone 322 times. Arkansas maintains the highest opioid prescribing rate in the nation, with 68.8 opioid prescriptions dispensed per 100 residents in 2024. Local youth data further demonstrate elevated risk. According to the 2024 Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment (APNA), 9.6% of students reported lifetime prescription drug misuse, 7.6% reported past 30-day misuse, and 32.1% of 10th-grade students perceived drugs as readily available. Additionally, 3.8% of 10th-grade students reported obtaining prescription medications from a friend, highlighting social access as a key local condition contributing to misuse. The average age of initiation for prescription drug misuse was 12.1 years, emphasizing the need for early prevention efforts. Through CARA funding, O.P.P.S. will strengthen community capacity and implement evidence-based prevention strategies designed to reduce youth access to opioids and prescription medications, increase awareness of fentanyl and counterfeit pill dangers, promote safe medication storage and disposal, engage parents and caregivers in prevention education, and strengthen collaboration among healthcare providers, schools, law enforcement, public health agencies, faith organizations, and youth-serving organizations. Planned activities include implementation of One Pill Can Kill and fentanyl awareness campaigns, medication lock box distribution, prescription drug take-back initiatives, parent education forums, youth leadership development, healthcare provider engagement, and community-wide prevention messaging. Youth coalition members will play an active role in planning, developing, and delivering prevention initiatives and public awareness campaigns. The project's long-term goals are to reduce past 30-day opioid and prescription drug misuse among youth and change the culture and context regarding the acceptability of opioid and prescription drug misuse. By September 2031, O.P.P.S. aims to reduce youth past 30-day prescription drug misuse from 7.6% to 5.7%, decrease perceived availability of drugs among youth, reduce social access to prescription medications, increase secure medication storage practices among adults, and strengthen community awareness of opioid misuse risks. Through data-driven implementation, multisector collaboration, and ongoing evaluation, O.P.P.S. will create sustainable community-level changes that reduce youth opioid and prescription drug misuse and strengthen long-term prevention capacity throughout Mississippi County.
