America will spend years unraveling the opioid crisis--how it began, who was responsible, and how addiction to these drugs devastated communities across the country. But far less attention has been paid to the crucial question of what comes next.

I believe the next phase of America's recovery will be defined not only by how we help people break their dependency on opioids, but also how we approach and manage the root cause of the crisis: debilitating pain. Arkansas is uniquely positioned to lead that important mindset shift.

Arkansas' opioid prescribing rate has long been among the highest in the nation. Prescriptions have declined greatly from their peak. But according to the CDC, Arkansas still has the highest opioid dispensing rate in the U.S.--68.8 prescriptions for every 100 people. That's almost double the national rate of 35.4.

When looking at these numbers, it's important to remember that the opioid crisis in Arkansas didn't begin with addicts looking for a high. It began with hardworking people seeking relief so they could continue providing for their families, going to school or making a living.

A 2023 study of the U.S. and Canada found that........

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