Our region faces an epidemic of prescription drug abuse.
And this problem impacts every part of our community – families, healthcare providers, employers, schools, and cities and towns.
The scope of the problem
Drug abuse & overdose deaths
We must work together to change these statistics:
- Approximately 60,000 Tennesseeans suffer from some form of dependence on prescription narcotics.
- Tennessee ranks #2 in the nation for opioid use, with East Tennessee having the highest opioid consumption in the state.
- 1,776 Tennesseans died from drug overdose in 2017. Of those deaths, 1,268 were from opioids. (Source: Tenn. Dept. of Health)
- For every person who dies from an opioid overdose, there are 851 people in various stages of misuse, abuse or treatment. That’s at least 1,074,813 Tennessee residents – or 1 out of every 6. (Source: CDC)
- More Tennesseeans die from opioid overdose than car accidents. (Source: Tenn. Dept. of Health, 2015)
In 2017, there were 137 confirmed drug overdose deaths in Northeast Tennessee.
- Sullivan County – 42 overdose deaths
- Washington County – 33 overdose deaths
- Greene County – 21 overdose deaths
- Carter County – 21 overdose deaths
- Unicoi County – 10 overdose deaths
- Hawkins County – 9 overdose deaths
Crime
Drug-related crimes increased by 33% from 2005 to 2012. During that same time, other crimes decreased. (Source: Tenn. Bureau of Investigation)
Broken families
Prescription opioid abuse has resulted in more children being removed from homes and entering state custody.
About 50% of the youth taken into Dept. of Children’s Services custody were removed from their homes because of parental drug use. (Source: Tennessee Dept. of Children’s Services)
Do you need help?
Feel stuck in the vicious cycle of drug dependency?
Take a few minutes to learn about our programs and how Overmountain Recovery can help you.