How Opioids Change the Brain
In March, Stephen Loyd was scrolling through Google images for a PowerPoint presentation on addiction when a picture of a bottle of Percocet pills triggered a powerful craving. His mouth watered. His hand trembled. He couldn’t move the computer mouse. When it happened, Loyd was in his office on the sixth floor of a government building in downtown Nashville, where he serves as medical director for Substance Abuse Services for the state of Tennessee, one of the states hardest h
Haslam issues challenge
In his eighth and final State of the State address, Gov. Bill Haslam delivered an at-times emotional early farewell by reflecting on his years in office while calling for lawmakers to take further action to help lead the nation on job growth and education gains.“Whether, like me, you have one more year, or you intend to be here for years to come, let’s use this time while we have the privilege of answering the call to lead, to be the force for good for the state of Tennessee,
The King’s Academy Hosted a Community Forum for Local Pastors, Non-Profits and Related Professionals
Today, Recovery at Seymour sponsored and The King’s Academy hosted a community forum for local pastors, non-profits and related professionals. Dr. Monty Burks, Karen Pershing, Ellen Wilhoit and your RAS Leadership team spoke about the immense possibilities when a community comes together to address addiction. Look for the videos of the presentations soon on our website. Click Here to See Facebook Post
Sevier County Churches Join Fight Against Drug Epidemic
SEYMOUR, Tenn. (WATE) - The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and substance abuse services along with other non-profits hosted a faith-based forum for religious leaders in Sevier County. The purpose was to provide information on the drug epidemic in Tennessee and encourage churches to provide recovery resources to their community. Monty Burks, the director of faith based initiatives for the state agency, said there are about 12,000 institutions of faith across Tennessee.
All Day Thursday: Medical Marijuana Gets New Allies, Opponents across Tennessee
WKRN web staff - NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - Do efforts to legalize medical marijuana in Tennessee stand a chance? There is growing momentum to make cannabis oil available for a long list of ailments, from cancer to arthritis to Parkinson's and PTSD. There's also stiff opposition. All day Thursday, we investigated the growing debate over medical marijuana in Tennessee, taking a look at both sides of the story - from people fighting on a grassroots level for legalization to thos
New Tennessee Law would Aim to Break Link between Gift Cards and Opioids
Several lawmakers were approached by lobbyists from a block of retail giants during the state legislative session last spring. The group, made up of representatives of Target, Walmart, Lowes and Home Depot, was seeking a law that would enhance penalties for organized crime, which had cost them some $200 million in stolen goods in 2016 in Tennessee alone. Shortly after beginning to look into their request, lawmakers realized they had stumbled upon a much bigger problem: There
Baumgartner Embodied Opioid Crisis in Knoxville; May He Now Rest in Peace
I know I wasn’t alone in feeling an overwhelming sadness at the death of Richard Baumgartner. We weren't close, but we’d crossed paths several times through the years. He was part of my 2004 Leadership Knoxville class, and it was a measure of the respect that others had for him that he was selected class representative after graduation. I was in his courtroom a time or two, as well. In 2009, I faced his intimidating presence on the bench when defense attorneys in the Christia
Stories of Addiction and Recovery from Tennessee
Hi, my name is Bethany, and I'm a recovering heroin addict and alcoholic, but that isn't the only “title” I have. I'm also a recovery advocate, a Narcan trainer and educator, a student, and an amazing mother, to an even more amazing little boy with autism. It wasn't too long ago, none of these names would have suit me. I was a hopeless, helpless drug addict, who wanted a better life but didn't know how, or have the resources to even begin. I knew my baby deserved a better lif
Lenoir City Chiropractor Pays $1.45 Million for Operating Pill Mills
A Lenoir City chiropractor has paid more than $1.45 million for allegedly operating a "pill mill" in which he used Medicare and TennCare to fill prescriptions for pain killers, including opioids, that were not medically necessary. The allegations were brought to light by a former office manager at one of Matthew Anderson's clinics who acted as a whistle blower, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. “The opioid epidemic has had a crushing effect on p
Knoxville Mother Pushes Tougher Penalties for Drug Dealers after Son's Overdoes Death
A mother is pushing state lawmakers to save other families from suffering the same fate as her son. Henry Granju was 18 when he died in 2010 from an opioid overdose. His parents sent him to rehab multiple times, but Granju couldn't escape his addiction. His mom is calling for changes in the law to increase the time behind bars for drug dealers who target minors. "When Henry died seven years ago there wasn't very much awareness," Granju's mother, Katie Allison, said. While Ten