What Churches Should do to Help Victims of the Opioid Crisis
A few weeks back, I got hung up in a traffic jam caused by a stalled car stopped at the crest of a hill, which made it impossible to safely pass. After a minute or so, I pulled my car over and ran up to help push them out of the way. One of the stalled car’s passengers, a young man, got out and tried to help, too. Even the young woman driving the car opened her door and pushed along with her left foot as she steered onto the shoulder. Two little kids popped up in the back sea
Transformations Unfold in Maryville Neighborhood
MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT)-- An East Tennessee neighborhood provides drug addicts with a path towards healing. "I'm here to learn how to be a man again," said Brock T., a man enrolled in the True Purpose Ministries program. "Drugs just took everything out of my life, you know, it took away my ambition to do anything other than look for a way to get high." In the midst of a quaint, middle class Blount County community, Brock and other men work to put their lives back together 'It
Officials: More Money, Personnel needed to Fight Opioid Epidemic
State lawmakers, law enforcement officials and local leaders met Thursday to discuss the opioid epidemic and their ongoing fight against it as part of the Metro Drug Coalition's annual legislative luncheon. MDC handed out a list of legislative items for lawmakers to consider ahead of the January session. Another topic of discussion was money and the need for more resources to fight the epidemic. "It's great to be able to get so many different levels of legislatures in the sam
UT Business Students Help Susannah's House Grow Preschool Program
A resource that provides hope for women battling drug addiction is getting some outside help.
Leaders at Susannah's House are working to add a preschool that can counsel parents and children on the trauma they've faced. The Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Recovery for Mothers in East Tennessee serves 20 women fighting opioid addiction. All together - that's more than 70 kids affected by drugs. Susannah's House believes preschool therapy can break the cycle of drug abus
WBIR to Hold Drug Take-Back Event in Clinton on Nov. 14
WBIR is inviting the public to turn in old and unwanted medication during a take-back event set for Tuesday, Nov. 14. The take-back, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Clinton Police Department, is part of the station's effort to raise awareness about the opioid crisis in East Tennessee. Tennessee is seeing a similar increase across the state. The outbreak is blamed on abuse of prescription pills and heroin and exposure to the deadly effects of fentanyl. If you
Deputies Keep Jobs in Sheriff’s Department Despite Prescription Pill Sharing
CLARKSVILLE, TN (WSMV) - Eight employees in the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office remain on the payroll despite admitting to providing prescription pain medication to a deputy who was ultimately terminated after a drug task force pill sting. A News 4 I-Team investigation uncovered that the eight sheriff’s department employees – four deputies, a lieutenant, a corporal and two civilian workers – all admitted to investigators with the 19th Judicial Task Force that they gave pre
Tennessee’s 9th District Forms Drug Overdose Task Force
LOUDON COUNTY (WATE) – Another district in Tennessee formed a special drug task force and it got the idea from Knox County. The district attorney’s office, law enforcement and other agencies in the 9th district will work together to prosecute people supplying the drugs that are killing people. The 9th district covers four counties: Loudon, Roane, Morgan and Meigs. “We want them to know we’re focused on them and we are targeting them,” said District Attorney Russell Johnson. J
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WBIR to Hold Drug Take-Back Event in Clinton on November 14th
WBIR is inviting the public to turn in old and unwanted medication during a take-back event set for Tuesday, Nov. 14. The take-back, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Clinton Police Department, is part of the station's effort to raise awareness about the opioid crisis in East Tennessee. Tennessee is seeing a similar increase across the state. The outbreak is blamed on abuse of prescription pills and heroin and exposure to the deadly effects of fentanyl. Related
Drug Injections Fuel Hepatitis C Increase
A rise in injection drug use is creating more new acute Hepatitis C incidents and East Tennessee is seeing higher rates of the disease than other parts of the state. "People don't just take opiates by mouth. It started that way, but they start injecting because it gives them a faster high," Dr. Martha Buchanan, the Knox County Health Department Director, said. Since Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood, sharing needles and straws can spread the disease. However, Dr. Bucha