TENNESSEE OVERDOSE PREVENTION
EAST TN RESOURCES
The Center for Prescription Drug Abuse/Misuse at ETSU
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In the Spring of 2012, a small group of ETSU scholars, health professionals, elected officials, and other interested parties came together to discuss the dramatic increase in prescription drug abuse and drug overdose death rates in the Appalachian Region.
ETSU Prescription Drug Abuse and Misuse Working Group
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An interdisciplinary working group focused on prescription drug abuse/misuse (PDA/M) has been active on campus since Spring 2012. From their first meeting, that group knew that the complexity of the PDA/M problem required inter-professional collaboration, community partnerships, teamwork, and an integrated training model that included faculty and student interaction. That group now has more than 60 members and has developed a long-range vision for a Center for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention at ETSU. In 2013 their work resulted in a large-scale NIDA proposal that was funded on the first attempt (PI- Pack, awarded in June, 2013). That work is focused on developing PDA/M research infrastructure while focusing on inter-professional communication and drug take-back events.
Knox County Drug Overdose Support Group
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Monthly support group meetings are available for parents, children, siblings or other family members who have lost a loved one due to the drug overdose epidemic. The purpose of this group is to help those family members deal with their loss by showing support, but most importantly, showing they are not alone and that there are others that have gone through or are going through the same devastation. Two of the coordinators are mothers who have lost sons to the drug epidemic.
The meetings are held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Fridays, once a month, and are held in the City Court Room located at the Knoxville Police Department Safety Building (800 Howard Baker Jr. Ave., Knoxville, TN 37915.) Prior registration is not required.