The Opioid Epidemic in Tennessee: A Public Health Strategy to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality

Publication Date

Spring 4-22-2026

Presentation Length

60 minutes

College

College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Department

Public Health, Department of

Student Level

Undergraduate

Faculty Mentor

Laurie Gavilo-Lane

Presentation Type

Poster

Summary

Opioid misuse and overdose deaths continue to create a severe public health challenge in Tennessee. In 2023, 3,985 Tennesseans died from drug overdoses, with 75% involving opioids, including 645 deaths from prescription opioids and the remainder involving drugs such as fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs (ONE Tennessee, n.d). Over two-thirds of opioid deaths in 2022 involved fentanyl, highlighting the ongoing rise of synthetic opioid fatalities (ONE Tennessee, n.d). Non-fatal overdoses remain high, with over 19,000 reported statewide in 2023, which places substantial strain on health systems (Tennessee Department of Health, 2023; CDC, 2025). This crisis affects adults aged 25-44, both rural and urban populations, and infants exposed prenatally. Tennessee ranks 6th in the nation for opioid prescriptions per capita, with 61.5 prescriptions per 100 residents in 2022, contributing to the ongoing exposure risk. (ONE Tennessee, n.d). These trends highlight an urgent need for targeted interventions to reduce opioid-related morbidity and mortality across the state.

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