KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Metro Drug Coalition is calling new data related to drug overdoses a jump in a positive direction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies said fatal drug overdoses are significantly decreasing.
The CDC reported drug overdose deaths had been rising since at least 2015, but in January of this year, overdose deaths finally began to decrease. They have continued decreasing in the following months, similar to the overdose statistics in Knox County. Reported overdose deaths are down 16.6% across the country.
In Tennessee, they were down almost 20% between June 2023 and June 2024, compared to June 2022 to June 2023. So far this year there have been 271 suspected overdose deaths in Knox County.
But during the same timeframe last year, there had already been 426 suspected overdose deaths. Authorities said 2023 ended with 485 people dying from suspected overdoses. In 2022, 511 people died from overdoses.
Jessica Stanley with Metro Drug Coalition said the decrease in overdoses proves that drug prevention and rehabilitation efforts are working.
“Things that are consistently in place, that’s when you start seeing the results of that consistency and efforts,” said Stanley. “But it’s a waiting game, things don’t just change overnight.”
Stanley said there are several factors that could have led to the decrease.
"'Tennessee Save a Life' [program] is where we provide education across the state about opioid overdoses and prevention," Stanley said.
Plus, an increase in the availability of Narcan and testing strips could have helped cut down on drug overdose fatalities. Stanley said to prevent overdose deaths, it’s important to prevent overdoses in general.
“Being able to stop some of the nonfatal overdoses is where those resources come into play,” said Stanley. “Like the fentanyl testing strips. What that is going to do is keep someone safe to the point where they won’t experience that.”
Stanley said as overdoses have decreased, the number of services the Metro Drug Coalition has increased. So far this year, they have already offered more than 46,000 services to people.
Stanley also said watching the numbers finally slow down gives hope for the future.