NEWS

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Sept. 19, 2024) — The Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (ARORP) hosted a gathering today to honor seven Arkansas Coalition Partnership Empowerment (COPE) coalitions that received the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

With an initial $536,607 investment from ARORP, 13 Coalition Partnership Empowerment (COPE) coalitions were supported in attending CADCA’s new Opioid Coalition Academy to help prepare them for the DFC grant’s rigorous application process. Thanks to collaborative efforts from ARORP, CADCA and the COPE coalitions, more than half of the applications were accepted.

“This phenomenal achievement by ARORP, COPE and CADCA highlights the power of possibilities that we realize in partnership,” said retired Maj. Gen. Barrye L. Price, president and CEO of CADCA. “These seven community-based coalitions just became self-sustainable with this federal recognition, and everyone involved should be extremely proud.”

The effort and collective impact of the COPE coalitions were recognized today during an event at the Association of Arkansas Counties in Little Rock, Ark. Speakers included Kirk Lane, director for ARORP; Tenesha Barnes, deputy director for ARORP; Chris Villines, executive director for the Association of Arkansas Counties; Mark Hayes, executive director for the Arkansas Municipal League; and Sandy Gillespie, founder of the Opioid Prescription Drug and Synthetics Coalition, which was formerly known as Healing in the Hood. Coalitions include:

• ●  Prevention-Awareness-Youth-Support (PAYS) Coalition; Mountain Home, Ark.; Baxter County
• ●  Sebastian County Opioid Task Force; Fort Smith, Ark.; Sebastian County
• ●  Opioid Prescription Drug and Synthetics Coalition (O.P.P.S.); Blytheville, Ark.; Mississippi

  County

• ●  Newton County Partners in Prevention Coalition; Jasper, Ark.; Newton County
• ●  Greene County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Coalition; Paragould, Ark.; Green

  County

• ●  Amazing Angels Coalition; Lake Village, Ark.; Chicot County
• ●  Carroll County Hometown Health Coalition; Green Forest, Ark.; Carroll County

The grant, aimed at preventing youth substance use in local counties and cities, will provide each coalition with $125,000 annually for five years, amounting to $625,000 per coalition and bringing nearly $4.4 million directly into the state. The coalitions will also have the opportunity to apply for a second five-year term of funding after the cycle ends, which would bring the investment to $8.75 million.

“We are eager to see how our investment will positively impact the state and further its prevention efforts,” Lane said. “This accomplishment marks a major step forward in combating substance misuse in the state, and we are fortunate to be part of these coalitions’ success stories.”

ARORP is highly involved in various prevention efforts, most recently launching its ReviveAR app on all app stores. ReviveAR provides a variety of free, easy-to-use recovery resources to users, including local treatment, recovery and family support options.

For more information about the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership, the COPE coalitions and CADCA, visit ARORP.org.

About the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership

The Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (ARORP), an initiative of the Arkansas Municipal League and the Association of Arkansas Counties, represents an unprecedented united front between the representatives of local government to abate the loss of life caused by the opioid epidemic in Arkansas communities. The Partnership oversees the strategic disbursement of opioid settlement dollars at the city and county levels and works to reduce overdose deaths through prevention, treatment, enforcement and recovery. ARORP’s message is simple: be bold, stand together and commit to abating opioid misuse and addiction in Arkansas. To learn more and submit a request for funding, visit ARORP.org.

About the Drug-Free Communities Program

Created in 1997, the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program funds community-based coalitions that engage multiple sectors of the community to prevent youth substance use. Recognizing that local problems need local solutions, DFC-funded coalitions engage multiple sectors of the community and employ a variety of environmental strategies to address local substance use problems. DFCs involve local communities in finding solutions and also helps youth at risk for substance use recognize the majority of our nation’s youth choose not to use substances. As demonstrated by independent evaluations, the DFC Support Program significantly reduces substance use amongst youth, the target population.

About CADCA

CADCA is the premier prevention association equipping coalitions with tools, knowledge and support to create positive change in their communities. CADCA’s vision is safer, healthier and stronger communities everywhere. Through our work, we have built a network of more than 7,000 coalitions across the United States and over 28 countries. At the core of CADCA’s creation is the belief in the effectiveness and efficiency of local coalitions as catalysts for

drug-free communities globally, combating substance misuse through the implementation of comprehensive strategies for community change.