We are grateful to have Miss Tennessee, Caty Davis, as our goodwill ambassador. Caty helps share our message of the importance of counting pills, locking them up, and dropping unused or expired medicines. Caty is no stranger to opioid abuse – several of her family members struggled with addiction. Because of her personal experience, she […]
Opinion | Continue collective fight against opioid misuse and abuse
February 24, 2018 Natalie Tate Tennessee’s opioids crisis is nearly unprecedented – but unfortunately, it isn’t new. We saw it on the horizon in the upper east region of the state years ago, where an increasing number of babies were being born dependent on prescription pain medication. We knew we had to take action, and […]
Three Selected For State Drug Abuse Committee
February 4, 2018 Raina Wiseman Drug abuse is a problem that many people face, but one main cause of this may be how easy it is to get prescription drugs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With a late January executive order by Governor Bill Haslam, the Tennessee Commission on Pain and […]
Tom Petty
In October 2017, Tom Petty, beloved musician and official heartbreaker, passed away from an accidental opioid overdose. In the last few years of his life, Petty suffered from a series of illnesses, including emphysema, knee problems and a fractured hip. Petty was determined not to let his fans down and continued to perform, not allowing […]
Don’t drop the ball. Make sure your medications are locked up safe.
By: Caty Davis, Miss Tennessee 2017 Some of my fondest childhood memories, especially those spent with my father, revolve around football. Like many households, the Super Bowl was always a big deal at his house. Most years, we visited the homes of family friends to watch the game together. One year, we even bussed the […]
Gov. Bill Haslam unveils $30 million plan to combat opioid crisis in Tennessee
January 22, 2018 Joel Ebert and Anita Wadhwani Educating children, making overdose-reversing drugs available to all state troopers and adding hundreds of prison beds to treat those fighting opioid addiction are part of Gov. Bill Haslam and legislative leaders’ comprehensive $30 million proposal to combat the epidemic. The proposal comes as Tennessee continues to fight the ongoing […]
The Results Are In: National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day by the Numbers
On Oct. 28, 2017, Tennesseans took action against the opioid epidemic by dropping off their unused or expired medications at take-back locations. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently released the report detailing how many pounds of pills were collected by each state in the U.S. Here are the numbers you need to know: Tennesseans turned […]
Erik Blom: Faces of Addiction
Erik Blom’s addiction began in seventh grade when he was bullied in school for being sensitive. Determined to never be picked on again, he began hanging out with a tougher group of friends. Pills were the choice with Erik and his friends because of how easily accessible they were. They would steal pills from their […]
Opioid painkiller prescriptions may run in families
December 11, 2017 Lisa Rapaport When one person in a household gets prescribed opioids, the other people who live with them are more likely to get their own prescriptions for these narcotic painkillers, a U.S. study suggests. Researchers examined data on about 12.6 million people living in a household where someone was prescribed opioids and […]
This Holiday Season: Share a Meal, Not Your Meds
If you’re like me, you’ll spend this holiday season visiting family and loved ones and welcoming them into your home. The holidays are a time to gather, celebrate and share with the people closest to us. While sharing gifts this holiday season, please don’t accidentally share your prescription medications. While you’re busy making sure your […]
