Tennessee Issues Warning about Deadly Drug
A powerful legal painkiller has proven so deadly in Tennessee, the state issued a public health advisory about it on Thursday. The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, along with the state's health department and Department of Safety and Homeland Security, said overdose deaths associated with the anesthetic fentanyl are increasing statewide. It's not only because the drug itself is being purposely abused, but also because it's become increasingl
State to Begin Sending Recovery Coaches to Emergency Departments
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A change in the system could help your loved ones who are suffering from drug addiction. At Lawrence & Memorial Hospital’s emergency department they often see the same overdose victims over and over again and a new program is aimed at stopping that. The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services will now begin sending recovery coaches to emergency departments. They will help people dealing with opioid, alcohol or other drug-related overdoses.
Drug Addiction-Domestic Violence Connection Strong
In his long career in law enforcement, Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch learned to expect a connection between alcohol and domestic violence calls. These days, the link between abuse and addiction is still there, but the primary substance has changed. Rausch said police now find opioid use tied to more domestic violence calls — as it is to theft, other types of violence and “just about every call” to police. “Opioid addiction has taken over in terms in everything that we d
Tennessee to Receive $13.8 Million Aimed at Prescription Opioid Crisis
Historic Increase for Substance Abuse Treatment in Tennessee NASHVILLE - U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, M.D. has announced that the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services will be awarded $13.8 million through the 21st Century Cures Act to help combat the prescription opioid epidemic in Tennessee. This is the largest single federal funding increase for opioid treatment in the state’s history. In his letter to governors, Secretar
Drug Arriving in Nashville is 10,000 Times More Powerful than Morphine
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – The Director of Emergency Services for Metro Nashville is concerned a synthetic opioid emerging in Middle Tennessee could cause an increase in deadly overdoses. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid created for use in large animals like elephants. In humans, the drug is so powerful it can cause a deadly overdose within seconds. “One of the key problems of carfentanil is how potent it is,” Dr. Corey Slovis said. “We really worry we won’t get to the patien
Unwanted Medication Collection Events this Weekend in Knoxville
KNOXVILLE (WATE) – The Knoxville Police Department, Knox County and City of Knoxville Solid Waste Offices, Knox County Health Department and East Tennessee Regional Medication Collection Coalition are holding two events later this week to collect old or unwanted medication so it can be properly disposed of. The event is Friday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Healthy Living Expo a at the Knoxville Convention Center and the
Taking the First Step
After years of drug addiction, a new mother finds peace at the Susannah’s House recovery program Lying on a cold concrete floor inside the Knox County Jail, Meghan Denney thought of her unborn child and started to cry. Her body trembled, her stomach churned, her head ached — the painful symptoms of drug withdrawal. When she would look in the mirror, she saw a woman she barely recognized: no more than 90 pounds, with messy hair, disheveled clothes and bloodshot eyes. “At that
After the OD: County Looks at Hiring Post-Naloxone Case Manager
There’s no question naloxone works well to keep people from dying after they’ve overdosed on opioid drugs. But both emergency responders and those who are addicted also know there’s no guarantee naloxone will be there the next time the patient overdoses – and there will be a next time for many. Knoxville Health Department Director Dr. Martha Buchanan is among those intent on finding a way to intervene after an overdose call. A naloxone collaborative of local emergency respons
Women in Courts Other than Criminal can Fall Through Cracks
Sometimes, Juvenile Court of Knox County Judge Tim Irwin looks at the young women in his courtroom struggling with addiction, about to lose custody of their children, and he wonders if their chances of making it would be better or worse if they’d done something to land themselves in jail. In criminal court, depending on the county and the situation, they might be eligible for rehab services through one of the state’s Recovery Courts, which give nonviolent, serial offenders a
Program Aims to Meet Addicts' Health Needs Long Term
As early as 2010, they began to see the signs of the coming epidemic. Patients came in for primary care with needle tracks on their arms and full-blown cases of undiagnosed hepatitis C. Pregnant women waited until well into their third trimester to seek prenatal care — afraid to keep taking the drugs they were on, afraid to quit. People, hurting, no longer able to afford the prescription opioids that dulled the pain, stooped to buying heroin on the street. They’d come in, see