addiction

One piece of legislation that passed during the 2023 session was Act 584: the Fentanyl Enforcement and Accountability Act, sponsored by Representative Jimmy Gazaway of Paragould.. An element of this law that has seemingly flown under the radar is the legalization of fentanyl strips in Arkansas. Senator Justin Boyd of Fort Smith attempted to pass legislation solely to legalize Fentanyl test strips earlier in the session, but the more comprehensive legislation by Representative Gazaway.

On today's show, Arkansas legislators introduced a bill proposing to decriminalize fentanyl test strips. Chris Jones, an advocate and co-founder of NWA Harm Reduction, said test strips are important to reduce harm. Also, the Northwest Arkansas Book Festival celebrates an indie bookstore boom. Plus, the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police oppose short-term rental bill, local music and more.

The legislature introduced SB40 earlier this month, which would decriminalize fentanyl test strips, no longer classifying the strips as drug paraphernalia. Chris Jones, an advocate and co-founder of NWA Harm Reduction, said the strips are important, not just for reducing harm among users, but also for volunteers.

The Cherokee Nation unveiled its 17,000-square-foot drug treatment center in Tahlequah this past week. The center is made possible through the tribal nation's historic opioid settlement fund, and is one part of the Cherokee Nation's amended Public Health and Wellness Fund Act. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said nearly a third of the opioids distributed in Oklahoma in recent years were shipped to the Cherokee Nation.

On today's show, Arkansas has the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, and teen pregnancy and infant mortality are nearly the highest, according to Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI). The center's officials raised awareness this Monday for the state ranking last in maternal health. Also, $240 million of the $1.1 billion spent on the region’s Medicare enrollees’ healthcare were spent on services outside region in 2019, according to an analysis from ACHI. Plus, the Fort Smith Symphony prepares for a busy few weeks, the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal and an update of bills from the Arkansas Legislature.

The New York Times Best Seller, "Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Influence" is now available in paperback. We spoke with author Dr. Anna Lembke about addiction, the body and mind for a short conversation on today's show. A longer version will air on Weekend Ozarks at Large, Sunday at 9 a.m.

According to a new data brief from the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, the number of Arkansans receiving opioid prescriptions is decreasing while…

Pete talks with LaDonna Humphrey with OASIS for Women in Northwest Arkansas - a transitional living community for women and their children who are…