Opioid town hall in Arkansas: Stopping the growth of the addiction crisis

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (SBG) - Sinclair Broadcast Group and Liberty University teamed up to host the latest installment in a series of town halls to help raise awareness of the country's opioid epidemic.

The goal of the discussion was to help raise awareness, as well as explore possible solutions and take a closer look at those who bear responsibility for the epidemic.

Eric Bolling moderated the event from KATV as part of the "Your Voice, Your Future" series.

He and his wife Adrienne have been outspoken activists in the battle against opioid addiction following the loss of their 19-year old son to an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2017.

A recent study by the National Safety Council found Americans are now more likely to die from an opioid overdose than in a motor vehicle accident.

In Arkansas the number of drug overdose deaths involving prescription opioids has decreased in recent years.

The state is just one of several to have a "Good Samaritan" law, which encourages people to find medical help for someone who has overdosed.

This law also provides immunity from arrest or prosecution for certain controlled substances when a person is experiencing an overdose and calls 9-1-1 for assistance.

Governor Asa Hutchinson joined Bolling to discuss some of the other ways Arkansas is working to try and combat the opioid crisis.

But while the number of drug overdose deaths involving prescription opioids decreased, the state saw an increase of nearly three times the number of deaths related to the drug fentanyl compared to 2017.

Arkansas Drug Czar Kirk Lane talked more about the impact of the synthetic opioid that has been described as 80-100 times stronger than morphine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were nearly 115 opioid prescriptions per 100 people in Arkansas in 2016. That number was the second-highest opioid prescription rate in the country.

Psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Taylor discussed the potential steps that may lead to addiction, and also the effects these drugs give that leave people wanting more.

Sinclair kicked off the "Your Voice, Your Future" series four months ago at Liberty University.

First lady Melania Trump headlined the event and spoke to students and families about opioid abuse, the third pillar of her "Be Best" initiative.

Sinclair Broadcast Group remains committed to fighting the opioid crisis, and "Your Voice, Your Future" seeks to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of addiction while exploring solutions to the drug crisis and holding accountable those who bear responsibility.

Thursday's town hall was streamed live on all of Sinclair's websites and it will re-air on multiple Sinclair stations.