TDMHSAS and TDH Mark Overdose Awareness Day
Annual remembrance renews focus on preventing deaths and reducing stigma
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Department of Health join with people across the state to recognize August 31st as Overdose Awareness Day. Events including candlelight vigils, trainings, and stigma-busting activities are planned across Tennessee.
The annual opportunity for remembrance of the lives lost to overdose and celebration of those who have survived overdose comes as Tennessee is starting to see significant progress in reducing overdoses. According to the most recent full-year overdose death statistics, more than 3,826 Tennesseans died from drug overdose or poisoning in 2022. That averages to more than 10 people per day. But provisional data from 2023 and more recent numbers from early 2024 show encouraging trends of significant reductions in overdose deaths.
“It’s so painfully true that one death from overdose is one death too many, but we’re hopeful that our state is finally seeing declining numbers of deaths. The scourge of illicit fentanyl has taken a huge toll, but with huge investments in comprehensive prevention, treatment, and recovery supports, Tennessee is able to meet the need of our neighbors who need help and want help for addiction issues,” said TDMHSAS Commissioner Marie Williams, LCSW.
“We are standing with our state and community partners to end overdoses in Tennessee,“ State Health Commissioner Ralph Alvarado, MD, FACP, said. “Every individual action matters and together we can show compassion to, and support for, those connected to the tragedy of overdose, honor those we’ve lost, and encourage healing through treatment and recovery in a powerful collective action.”
The 2024 theme for International Overdose Awareness Day is “Together We Can,” and that will be on full display in communities across Tennessee. Substance Use Prevention Coalitions, community-based treatment providers, and other groups have organized more than 65 events across the state. Find an event near you at this link on TNtogether.com.
Tennessee’s Regional Overdose Prevention Specialists have been working to address drug overdose since 2017. In that time, they have distributed more than 678,000 units of naloxone in communities across Tennessee, and as a result, they have documented more than 82,000 lives saved. The ROPS training on overdose prevention and reversal is free and available to anyone or any group that would like to receive it. Use this link on TN.gov to find contact information for your local ROPS.
For Tennesseans who are ready to enter treatment for addiction, services are available even if you have no means to pay. Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789 or visit FindHelpNowTN.org for a free and confidential referral to substance use disorder treatment services.