If you’ve worked within the Arkansas recovery and overdose prevention movement, you’re likely familiar with Dr. Stephanie Rose. As an Associate Professor & Addiction Studies Program Coordinator at the University of Central Arkansas, she’s brought lifesaving resources like naloxone to the UCA campus and advocated for similar initiatives at campuses throughout the entire state. Her advocacy is crucial to safer, healthier, and well-informed collegiate communities.
In early adulthood, Dr. Rose was a first-generation college student coping with substances who was inspired to eventually pursue her doctorate in social work and make a tangible difference on communities affected by a variety of societal challenges. Using her lived experience and higher education, her career has evolved into a case study of how to champion substance-use disorder professionals and those who actively use alike. Whether it’s through her work at UCA or participation within the Arkansas Collegiate Network, she’s placed young people first.
We’re excited to share a conversation with Dr. Rose, covering the early days of her education, to the work she’s accomplishing right now at UCA – which includes bringing an End Overdose chapter to the campus.
Can you tell us about your background? What inspired you to eventually pursue your doctorate in social work, from your earliest academic days at UALR to your doctorate program at Capella University?
I am a first-generation student and the oldest of six. I grew up with a lot of addiction in my family. I lost my dad to alcoholism when he was just 51 years old and I lost a cousin to laced marijuana that contained fentanyl. I found myself coping with substances during my early ‘20s and realized I needed help. I wanted to turn my pain into purpose and pursued a Social Work degree. While I never thought I’d be able to work in the field of addiction, I actually found it to be the field I was most attracted to and wanted to help. I decided to pursue my doctorate to start research about zero-tolerance programs for youth and how these programs seem to create a school-prison-pipeline.
What does teaching undergraduate and graduate students look like within the field of addiction? What lessons have you taken away from overseeing the addiction studies program at UCA?
Teaching in the field of addiction is a unique mix of science, empathy, and real-world application. I have a wonderful mix of traditional and non-traditional students. Some with lived experience and some without. The mentorship part is very important as students increase their own self-awareness and explore challenges. Even among students entering the field, stigma can linger. Internships, practicums, and community partnerships often have the biggest impact. Students learn far more from real client interactions than from textbooks alone. One of the most important shifts you see is when students begin to replace judgment with curiosity and compassion.
Can you tell us about your work in the Arkansas Collegiate Network? How have you been able to bring your expertise on SUD to the coalition?
One of the most important things I tell my students is to show-up, be consistent, have integrity and do what you say you will do. While ACN has experienced multiple directors, I remain a constant in the program. I believe in the importance of this program, how it brings us together and the education we can provide our students. It is also a great way to connect with other campuses and provide mentorship when needed. We have served as mentors to new schools, assisted with prevention festivals, provided Naloxone training and more.
How would you evaluate the addiction and overdose prevention landscape throughout Arkansas? What gaps can be filled by experts like yourself?
We have to normalize a culture of alternative treatments and make them more accessible and affordable. Recently, a neck injury I incurred almost 18 years ago has worsened and natural remedies were just not cutting it. Opioids were readily pushed, but I am thankful that I knew better. The challenges I faced trying to get alternative therapies covered really revealed a lot about this problem. Arkansas is also the number-one opioid prescribing state, which further demonstrates the need for education around opioids, but especially prevention education. Continuing to address the stigma surrounding addiction is needed as well, as many people still think Naloxone enables addiction.
Why are substance-use-disorder and overdose prevention resources so important to make accessible throughout Arkansas?
A large portion of Arkansas is rural, which creates barriers, including fewer treatment centers and trained providers, long travel distances for counseling or medication-assisted treatment and limited public transportation. We have a relatively low health literacy rate and high blue-collar-work injury rates. In a state like Arkansas, accessibility isn’t just about convenience—it’s the difference between life and death, between early help and crisis, and between isolated struggle and community support.
You helped bring End Overdose to the UCA campus – can you talk about the importance of nonprofits like End Overdose doing outreach on Arkansas campuses?
UCA was the first university in Arkansas to have a Naloxone program. I am so thankful that leadership supported my requests and cautions about the overdose rates. While it is great to have trained faculty, End Overdose allowed us to empower students to do peer-training, which has allowed us to do more Naloxone training. The students really like the format and design. Empowering students is extremely important.
What contribution have you made to the field of addiction studies and treatment efforts in Arkansas that you’re most proud of?
Starting a Naloxone program at UCA and being the first to do this, which showed it worked and demonstrated a need for all colleges. I am also just so proud when I see our graduates in the field doing amazing work and paying it forward. That is a big saying in our program-for example, we offer free supervision. All I ask is that they pay it forward one day. I am so proud of the professionals we are adding to Arkansas!
What do you envision for the future of SUD treatment efforts and overdose prevention and response efforts throughout Arkansas?
I see a huge need to incorporate more developmentally appropriate prevention training, starting young. We also have to continue to move away from the moral model and view substance-use disorders as a complex disorder. We need more grounding discussions in science (e.g., brain changes, reinforcement pathways) that reduce blame and increase understanding.
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