Overdose Deaths in Washington and Benton Counties Are Down by More Than Half. Here Is Why I Am Still Watching

On November 3, Axios published a new analysis of CDC data. It estimated that nearly 68,000 people in the United States died of drug overdoses in the 12 months ending March 2026. That is about 9,500 fewer than the year before.

The headline was good news. The part that caught my eye was further down: overdose deaths still went up in 430 counties.

So I looked up our own two counties, Washington and Benton, in the same CDC county data. Here is what I found, and what I think it means for families here.

What the CDC numbers show for Washington and Benton counties

The CDC counts overdose deaths by the county where the person lived, in rolling 12-month periods. These are provisional numbers, so they can still change a little as death records are finished.

• Washington County: 35 overdose deaths in the 12 months ending March 2023, 18 in the year ending March 2025, and 16 in the year ending March 2026. The highest point was 47, in the 12 months ending October 2022.
• Benton County: 52 overdose deaths in the 12 months ending March 2023, 24 in the year ending March 2025, and 16 in the year ending March 2026.

Put together, our two counties went from 87 overdose deaths to 32 in three years. That is a drop of more than half.

It matches what is happening statewide. Arkansas recorded 365 confirmed overdose deaths in 2025, down from 438 in 2023, as I wrote about in my article on Arkansas overdose deaths falling.

The drop has leveled off here

Look closer at the most recent months and the picture changes.

In Washington County, the 12-month count has stayed between 14 and 16 since the summer of 2025. It has stopped falling.

In Benton County, the count reached a low of 12 in the 12 months ending September 2025. Since then it has moved back up to 16 or 17.

These are small numbers, and small numbers bounce around. I would not call it a trend yet. But it is a reminder that the big national decline is not guaranteed to keep going in any one place. Every one of those 32 deaths was somebody's son, daughter, mother or father in Northwest Arkansas.

There is also a lot these numbers do not show. They do not count the overdoses that people survived. And for smaller nearby counties such as Madison and Carroll, the CDC hides any count between 1 and 9 to protect privacy, so we cannot see their trends at all.

Why I am watching this week closely

The DEA's order placing 7-OH in Schedule I can take effect on or after November 13. I covered what that means in what to do before the 7-OH ban starts.

Health officials elsewhere are already preparing. On November 6, the Pennsylvania Department of Health alerted health care providers to a likely increase in patients with opioid withdrawal symptoms once the rescheduling happens.

Arkansas has listed 7-OH as a Schedule I drug since 2015, but people here still buy it across state lines or online. When a supply dries up, some people go into withdrawal. Some turn to whatever they can find, and in 2026, street pills can contain fentanyl.

That is the moment when someone who has been doing "okay" can be in real danger.

What families in Northwest Arkansas can do now

You do not need to wait for the next set of numbers to act. A few simple steps matter:

• Keep naloxone (Narcan) at home and in the car. The CDC says naloxone is sold over the counter in all 50 states, no prescription needed. It can reverse an opioid overdose, including from fentanyl, and it will not harm someone who is not on opioids.
• Know that one dose may not be enough. The CDC notes that more than one dose may be needed when fentanyl is involved. After giving it, call 911 and stay with the person.
• Learn the signs of a problem. My guide to recognizing opioid use disorder in a loved one covers what to watch for.
• Talk about treatment before a crisis. It is easier to make a plan on a calm day than in an emergency room.

Why treatment is part of the answer

Naloxone saves a life in the moment. Treatment is what keeps someone alive over the long run.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says people with opioid use disorder who are treated with medications such as buprenorphine are less likely to die and less likely to overdose. The CDC says detox alone, without medication afterward, is not recommended.

Buprenorphine is the main ingredient in Suboxone, and it is what I prescribe at my office in Fayetteville. I see every patient myself, every visit. I do not bill insurance; a scheduled visit is $200. Your first dose is taken in person, so I can make sure you start safely. Your records are private under federal law, 42 CFR Part 2. If you want to know more about how care works here, see my page on Suboxone treatment for Northwest Arkansas.

Call me to make an appointment

The falling numbers in Washington and Benton counties are real, and they are worth being grateful for. But they have leveled off, and the next few weeks could be hard for people who depend on 7-OH or other opioids.

If you or someone you love is struggling, you do not have to figure it out alone. I answer my own phone, day or night. Call me at 479-856-1505 to make an appointment.