New statistics underline the prescription drug problem in Tennessee and its impact on anyone on the roads in this state.
Data from the Tennessee Highway Patrol now shows that drugs have surpassed alcohol as the leading factor in fatal DUI crashes.
Our partners at The Tennessean report the number of deaths in drug crashes shot up 89 percent between 2010 and 2015.
174 people died in 2015 in a crash where the driver tested positive for drugs or officers determined drugs were a contributing factor in the crash.
In that same time 136 died in drunk driving crashes and 51 in wrecks from distracted driving.
Knoxville's Metro Drug Coalition says these statistics sound dramatic, but are not shocking.
The MDC works to stop drug addiction through education and prevention.
They say more needs to be done to get people help.
“The most important thing to do is to seek help for them and a lot of times what we're seeing is people don't have insurance to go to a treatment facility. They can call Tennessee Redline and get into a bed at a facility,” said Deborah Huddleston with MDC.
The Tennessee Association of Alcohol Drug and other Addiction Services operates the redline. You can reach them at 1-800-889-9789.