Before his addiction, Adam Allmon was no stranger to hard work. In school, the Smith County native was consistently in the top 25 percent of his class and maintained an impressive GPA. However, it all changed when he graduated from high school. What started out as a way to spend time with friends quickly developed […]
Retired nurse couldn’t save own daughter from opioids
Dec. 19, 2016 Jessica Bliss Her daughter had nine broken ribs and had a blood clot that required surgery to remove it. So, when Judy Jenkins called about her upcoming visit, the two women made plans to take it easy, go out to eat and visit a spa to get their nails done. Fun, low-key mother-daughter […]
What Can We Do To Combat Opioid Addiction?
Opioid addiction is a growing problem in the United States and especially in Tennessee. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, there has been a 220 percent increase in drug overdose deaths from 1999 to 2012, and in 2012, prescription opioids passed alcohol for the first time as the primary substance of abuse. This problem […]
Count It! Lock It! Drop It!™ Launching Faces of Opioid Addiction Ad Campaign
Count It! Lock It! Drop It!™ with support from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation is launching a statewide advertising campaign Sept. 12 in an effort to combat prescription drug misuse. The TV spot will begin airing in East Tennessee on WBIR-TV (NBC) in Knoxville and WCYB-TV (ABC) in Tri-Cities. Adam Allmon, a recovering addict […]
Opioid Addiction: Why It’s An Epidemic
When people hear the word “epidemic,” they often think of smallpox or the flu. In reality, the word can apply to anything affecting a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community or region at the same time. With that in mind, let’s break down that definition and apply it to opioid addiction. There […]