At Thursday’s Malvern/Hot Spring County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, held at ASU-Three Rivers in Malvern, Kristin Brown, APRN with Healthy Connections, opened her presentation with a simple but striking request: “Show of hands—who here knows someone impacted by addiction?” Nearly every hand in the room went up. It was a moment of truth that framed the rest of her message: addiction is not someone else’s problem. It is here, now, affecting Hot Spring and surrounding counties.
The Scope of the Problem
According to the most recent statistics, Arkansas loses about one person every day to overdose. That adds up to hundreds of lives cut short each year. In Hot Spring and nearby counties, the numbers are no less alarming—rates of non-fatal overdoses rank among the highest in the state, and surveys show that young people are more likely to underestimate the risks of misusing prescription pills.
Brown emphasized that addiction extends far beyond the individual. It affects the local workforce, reduces productivity, strains public safety systems, and destabilizes families. Every overdose reverberates through a business, a school, a church, or a household.
What People Are Addicted To
Brown explained that the crisis is driven by multiple substances. Opioids—including fentanyl and prescription painkillers—are a major factor. Methamphetamine remains a serious problem in Arkansas. Alcohol continues to devastate families. And more often than not, people are struggling with more than one substance at the same time.
Why Prescribing Practices Matter
Not all addiction begins on the street. Some of it begins in the exam room. Brown pointed out that long courses of opioid pain medications, when overprescribed or not closely monitored, have fueled dependence across Arkansas. “That doesn’t mean every prescription is bad,” she noted. “It means we have to be more thoughtful.”
She highlighted the importance of alternatives: non-addictive medications, physical therapy, and behavioral or holistic approaches to pain management. Prevention matters, and every unnecessary opioid prescription avoided is one less potential case of addiction.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): A Proven Solution
For those already struggling, prevention is not enough. That’s where Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) comes in. Brown explained how MAT combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral support to reduce cravings and prevent relapse.
“MAT works,” she said. “Decades of research confirm it. Patients are more likely to succeed in recovery, far less likely to overdose, and better able to rebuild their lives. This is medical treatment, not ‘trading one drug for another.’”
Local Access to Care
Healthy Connections is ensuring that MAT is not out of reach. Two locations in Malvern—Teeter Plaza and Pinnacle—offer comprehensive addiction treatment. Nearby clinics in Arkadelphia, Hot Springs, Sheridan, and Haskell, along with locations across the state, mean patients don’t have to travel far for judgment-free care.
For individuals searching for addiction treatment in Malvern, AR, Healthy Connections provides accessible, evidence-based options that put recovery within reach.
An Investment in Community Strength
Brown closed by reminding the business audience that treatment is not only compassionate—it is economically smart. Studies show the cost of opioid use disorder averages more than half a million dollars per case, per year, when factoring in healthcare, lost work, and public safety. Treatment cuts those costs, puts people back to work, stabilizes families, and strengthens the local economy.
“Investing in treatment is investing in the future of Hot Spring County,” Brown said. “It means stronger families, safer neighborhoods, and a healthier workforce.”
Recognition and Commitment
Healthy Connections’ leadership on this issue was underscored by a recent honor. In 2025, the Malvern/Hot Spring County Chamber of Commerce named Healthy Connections its Business of the Year—a reflection not only of its growth, but of its enduring commitment to the health and vitality of this community.
A Call to Action
Brown’s message was clear: silence and stigma make the problem worse. Facing addiction head-on—and providing solutions like MAT—creates a path to recovery.
Addiction is not someone else’s problem. But together, Hot Spring County can make it someone else’s recovery story.
For more information about addiction treatment in Malvern, AR, or to schedule an appointment, call Healthy Connections at 888-710-8220 or visit healthy-connections.org.
