“These funds will better equip the Eighth North Judicial Circuit Adult Drug Court with the resources it needs to address the ongoing opioid epidemic within the community,” Chief Justice Kemp said in announcing the award. “As a former drug court judge and as chair of the Specialty Court Program Advisory Committee, I understand that the state’s drug courts, and other specialty courts, play a critical role in addressing the cruel impact the opioid crisis is having in our communities.”

The funds are part of a $1 million award to the Administrative Office of the Courts by the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office and must be used to provide restorative services for drug court participants, including transitional and chemical-free housing, substance abuse and mental health services, peer support recovery services, childcare assistance, and educational services and programming.

Marty Sullivan, Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, will also deliver Naloxone kits to equip each courtroom within the Eight North Judicial Circuit with a supply of Naloxone. The Naloxone medication helps overdose victims survive by blocking and reversing the effects of opioid drugs on a person’s body. Funding for the Naloxone kits was provided by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Given their close work with those suffering from opioid addiction, it is important that our courts and court personnel have a readily available supply of Naloxone on hand,” Sullivan said.

According to data from the Arkansas Department of Health, there were 487 deaths from overdose statewide in 2022, the most recent full year for which data is available.