August 31st was International Overdose Awareness Day. Knox County had several events to commemorate the day including a Candlelight Vigil at the City County Building to memorialize lives lost to overdose deaths. Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen released the 2019 Fatal Overdose Victims and Criminal Justice System Report which reflects that Knox County suffered 293 overdose deaths in 2019.

The Tennessee Overdose Prevention Group has sponsored several billboards across the state highlighting lives saved by Naloxone. As noted in our most recent newsletter, we will offer a Narcan training to all participants of our Stakeholder Meeting in September. We hope you’ll join us on 9/21 at 2PM to learn more about substance use and overdose trends in Knox County. Zoom link will be sent closer to the meeting.