Bristol Declares Aug. 31 International Overdose Awareness Day
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Rhonda Coffey lost her son, David, two years ago to a drug overdose. Today would have been his 36th birthday. On July 26, 2015, “the dynamic of my family changed forever,” Coffey said “I lost my firstborn son. My son Chris lost his brother.” After David’s passing, Coffey founded The ADDICTS Family with her son Chris. It’s a nonprofit support group for those who have a family member in active addiction or who have lost a loved one. “I knew I had to be the voic
‘Night of Remembrance’ in Nashville will Honor Victims of Drug Overdoses
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – On Aug. 31, people around the world will gather to remember people who have died from a drug overdose. Events for International Overdose Awareness Day are being held in several different cities, including Nashville. News 2 spoke to two overdose survivors who now share their story to try to prevent others from making the same mistakes. “I came from a good family, sports player growing up,” said Evan Radtke. Radtke is a typical All-American young man,
As Overdose Death Toll Rises, Grassroots Group Fights Stigma with Overdose Awareness Event
On Thursday night, as the lights across the Henley Bridge glow purple, some will mourn the loss of a loved one. Some will be grateful for a second chance. And some, Nancy Daniels hopes, will see it as a beacon, will see that they have support to pull them out of the depths of drug addiction. Daniels is founder of Tennessee Overdose Prevention, a grassroots nonprofit organization that will sponsor its second Overdose Awareness Day event 5-9 p.m. Thursday starting at the Women'
‘Night of Remembrance’ in Nashville will Honor Victims of Drug Overdoses
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – On Aug. 31, people around the world will gather to remember people who have died from a drug overdose. Events for International Overdose Awareness Day are being held in several different cities, including Nashville. News 2 spoke to two overdose survivors who now share their story to try to prevent others from making the same mistakes. “I came from a good family, sports player growing up,” said Evan Radtke. Radtke is a typical All-American young man,
Suspected Overdose Death Statistics
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We All have Role to Play in Ending Opioid Crisis
Opioids -- medications used to treat pain and associated with euphoria -- are responsible for as many as 91 overdose deaths every day in the United States. Today, opioid misuse is a national crisis. In fact, the government declared it an official national emergency earlier this month. Tennessee ranks second in the country in opioid prescriptions per capita, and ninth in drug-related deaths per 100,000 population. About 5 percent of the state’s population is addicted to opioid
Investigation: How Many Lives Are Lost to Opioids? No One Knows.
Click Here to View Video In 2015, state officials reported at least 1,451 men, women and children died from drug overdoses in Tennessee - but that's far from an accurate count. There are likely hundreds more. No one knows the true number. Drug deaths reported in Tennessee are fundamentally flawed and represent an under-count of the toll taken by opioids, the nation’s most deadly drug epidemic, a USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee investigation found.
Sullivan Co. Designated as Member of Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
SULLIVAN COUNTY, TN (WJHL) – Sullivan County was recognized on Thursday as the newest county in the region to become a member of the Appalachia High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, which gives federal resources to members to help eliminate or reduce drug trafficking. According to a federal news release, the Appalachia HIDTA uses a “multi-disciplinary approach to deal with the ongoing threats to public health and safety, particularly as it regards prescription drug diversion,
Aug. 31 Set for International Overdose Prevention Day Vigil
Around the hallways and treatment rooms out at Cornerstone of Recovery, he’s known as “Bubba.” James Graczyk isn’t as big as he was before gastric bypass surgery in 2016 helped him lose more than 300 pounds, but he carries himself with a sense of grace, humility and spirituality that’s 10 times bigger than he ever was at his heaviest. Sitting down over lunch to discuss the Third Annual International Overdose Awareness Day — scheduled for 5 p.m. Aug. 31 at Volunteer Landing of