Gabapentin use and a claim for memory loss in Arkansas

Arkansas ranks among the top ten states for per-capita gabapentin prescribing, driven by one of the nation's highest chronic pain rates and severe opioid crisis impact across the rural Delta and Ozark regions. The state's limited healthcare infrastructure — with many counties classified as medically underserved — means patients rely heavily on primary care providers who prescribe gabapentin broadly for pain conditions without specialist oversight. Arkansas has not scheduled gabapentin as a controlled substance, despite bordering states like Tennessee and Alabama that have taken this step. The state's large population of manual laborers in poultry processing, agriculture, and manufacturing face chronic occupational pain that drives long-duration gabapentin use at high doses.

For the overall process and updates, read the Gabapentin use and a claim for memory loss overview. This page covers the local information available for Arkansas.