UT Focuses Its Might on Solving the Opioid Crisis
NASHVILLE — The University of Tennessee—with its unique capacity to provide education, conduct research and deliver outreach to every corner of the state—is turning its combined capabilities to the opioid crisis, President Joe DiPietro said today.
DiPietro’s announcement came during his third annual State of the University address before a crowd of UT leaders, government officials and dignitaries at the Nashville Public Library and to a live webcast audience.
“It’s exac
Recovery Advocate Worked Publicly, Privately to Help Others
xford Treatment Center’s 2018 Anniversary Weekend on June 2 will include a special tribute to an alum who dedicated her recovery to helping others break free from addiction. Bethany Morse, a well-known regional advocate for treatment and recovery, died Friday, Feb. 2. She was 34. Her family said she had suffered from health problems recently and was scheduled to see a doctor that day. Throughout the Mid-South, Morse was known as an outspoken, public advocate for addicts and t
Harwell Backs Medical Marijuana
The ongoing effort to make Tennessee the next state to permit medical marijuana was bolstered Monday with two new Republican backers: House Speaker Beth Harwell and Rep. Bryan Terry. “I believe it is time for us to take action on the state level with regards to medical marijuana,” Harwell, R-Nashville, said in a statement. Harwell, who is running for governor, previously said she was open to medical marijuana, unlike many of her competitors seeking the GOP nomination. The spe
Man Sentenced to 25 Years for His Part in Fatal Overdose
(DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NEWS RELEASE) - A West Tennessee man has been sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for distributing heroin resulting in a fatal overdose. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. According to information presented in court, on February 16, 2018 Marvin “Pookie” Foster, 51, was sentenced to 25 years for distributing heroin, which resulted in the death of Cody Tetleton. Tetleton
Owner of Sober Living Home Where Fire Killed 3 Defends Herself, Business
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – The owner of a sober living home where three women died in a fire told News 2 there were working smoke alarms in the home. She believes the women who perished were trying to get out but were trapped. “The buck stops with me,” Phyllis Abuan told News 2. “Even though I know there was nothing I could’ve done differently, I still feel that responsibility.” Abuan owns “Footprints 2 Recovery”, which provides sober living for people recovering from drug or
Dealing with Drug Culture in East Tennessee Schools
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) - Parents - would you know if your teenager is using drugs? It's a harsh reality that is hitting youth in East Tennessee as the opioid epidemic continues to hold a firm grip on the community. The reality is there are teenagers in East Tennessee who are currently using drugs and some are addicted. As painful as it is to look at the scars on his hands and arms, Drew Zorio, 19, is thankful to be alive. "Opiates were my number one. Heroin and morphine were
Greenback Farm Helps Mothers in Drug Addiction Recovery
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- After years of drug addiction, an East Tennessee mother knew she had to make a change when she became pregnant. This year, thanks to a farm, she began a path to recovery. Linda Roberts said her drug addiction nearly took her life, and when she became pregnant she didn't know where to turn. "I was scared and didn't know what to do," Roberts said. Her doctors suggested she enroll at Susannah's House, a Knoxville-based organization that helps pregnant
FBI: Hand Over ‘Italians’ in RICO Opiate Case
The FBI is painting for the Italian government a portrait of two of its citizens as heartless, greedy killers of at least 700 residents of Florida and Tennessee and making this pitch: Send Luca Sartini and Luigi Palma to America to face justice. U.S. Attorneys Tracy Stone and Kelly Pearson have filed in U.S. District Court an affidavit by FBI Agent Steven P. Haughton in a bid to convince the Italian government to extradite Sartini and Palma to the U.S. The pair and a third ma
Make Sure You Grab a Copy of the Roane County News and Read the Story about Disposerx
Make sure you grab a copy of the Roane County News and read the story about Disposerx. Just one minor correction. The paper says we are the first organization in Tennessee to get Disposerx. We are actually the first Coalition to get Disposerx. Walmart’s all over the country (including Tennessee) had it before we did. If you need a packet or want more information,just stop by the office.
How a Brentwood Family is Working to Break the Stigma Surrounding Addiction
Alex Beatty had struggled with drug and alcohol abuse for a decade. For his parents, Yarnell and Liz Beatty, June 11, 2016 marks the day their lives changed forever, when the 24-year-old took a fatal mix of Oxycontin and Xanax and died of an accidental overdose at their home in Brentwood. The Beattys' story isn't uncommon in Tennessee. In 2016, 1,631 people died from opioids, a 12 percent jump from 2015. Adults ages 18 to 25 in Tennessee were using prescription opioids at a 3