NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT/TNS) -- In 2017 alone, 1776 Tennesseans died following a drug overdose. In reaction, state officials have launched a new campaign to raise awareness of how the opioid epidemic is impacting individuals, families and communities.
The "Tennessee Faces of the Opioid Crisis" campaign shares the stories of residents from counties across the state whose lives have been affected by opioid misuse.
State health commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey says opioid-related overdose deaths in Tennessee continue to climb.
We are continuing to see an increase in overdose deaths. Our overdose death data is finalized through 2017. We have some preliminary 2018 numbers, but they were still on the rise, and they were still on the rise in both men and women."
The Centers for Disease Control says more than 1900 Tennesseans likely died of drug overdose in 2018. CDC says the data is preliminary and will likely change when finalized.
