The No. 1 public health crisis in Tennessee is opioid abuse. In 2014, more people died from opioid overdoses than car or firearm accidents.
To address this problem, The Tennessean organized, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee sponsored an Opioid Epidemic Forum to discuss the issue of opioid abuse and the challenges it presents for the state of Tennessee.
“The prescription drug arena is a hard one for law enforcement to work in,” said Tommy Farmer, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation special agent-in-charge and director of the Tennessee Methamphetamine and Pharmaceutical Task Force.
If you or someone you know if struggling with opioid abuse, please ask for help. Don’t be a statistic. Here are a few resources to help with substance abuse:
- The Tennessee REDLINE (1-800-889-9789)
www.tn.gov/behavioral-health - www.recovery.org
- www.nashvillerecovers.org/treatment-and-detox
For more on opioid abuse, read Anita Wadhwani’s article in The Tennessean.