Ask Our Doctors | Addiction Help & Mental Health Forum by JourneyPure

Addiction Health Forum

Ask Our Doctors | Addiction Help & Mental Health Forum by JourneyPure
  • Uncategorized
  • Addiction Recovery
  • Alcoholism
  • Drug Addiction
    • Meth Addiction
    • Opioid Addiction
  • Families of Addicts
  • Suboxone
  • Kentucky Substance Abuse
  • Tennessee Substance Abuse
  • Florida Substance Abuse
  • Company News
  • Mental Health

Tennessee Substance Abuse

By Dr. Brian Wind Ph.D.
4 FAQ

JourneyPure.com doctors follow rigorous sourcing guidelines and cite only trustworthy sources of information, including peer-reviewed journals, count records, academic organizations, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, government reports and their own expertise with decades in the field and their own personal recovery.

  • Alcoholic Beverages Taxes. TN Department of Health. Retrieved 8/26/21, from https://www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/alcoholic-beverages-taxes.html

  • Controlled Substance Monitoring Database Program. TN Department of Health; TN.gov. Retrieved 8/26/21, from https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/csmd-board/csmd-board/about.html

  • Current Drug Trends. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; TN.gov. Retrieved 8/26/21, from https://www.tn.gov/tbi/crime-issues/crime-issues/drugs.html

  • Data Dashboard. TN Department of Health; TN.gov. Retrieved 8/26/21, from https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/pdo/pdo/data-dashboard.html

  • NIDA. 2020, April 3. Tennessee: Opioid-Involved Deaths and Related Harms. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/tennessee-opioid-involved-deaths-related-harms on 2021, August 27

  • (1/28/21). 2018-2019 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health: Model-Based Estimated Totals. SAMHSA; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt32879/NSDUHsaeTotal2019/2019NSDUHsaeTotal.pdf

  • (2021, March). Tennessee’s Annual Overdose Report 2021: Report on Epidemiologic Data and Projects to Address the Overdose Epidemic. TN Department of Health. https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/pdo/2021%20TN%20Annual%20Overdose%20Report.pdf

  • (6/9/21). Controlled Substance Monitoring Database (CSMD) and Prescription Safety Act: Frequently Asked Questions. TN Department of Health. https://www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/alcoholic-beverages-taxes.html

Disclaimer

All content is for informational purposes only. No material on this site, whether from our doctors or the community, is a substitute for seeking personalized professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard advice from a qualified healthcare professional or delay seeking advice because of something you read on this website.

According to the latest data from SAMHSA, 325,000 Tennessee residents a year need addiction treatment but don't receive it. Get answers about treatment in our state.
Tennessee Substance Abuse Topics
  • Tennessee Drug Abuse Statistics
  • What is the worst county in Tennessee for drugs?
  • Prescription Drug Abuse in Tennessee
  • Tennessee Alcohol Laws
  • More About Tennessee Substance Abuse

Tennessee Drug Abuse Statistics

  • 543,000 Tennessee Adults reported that they’ve used illicit drugs in the past month.
  • Nearly 70% of drug overdose fatalities in Tennessee involved opioids.
  • An estimated 375,000 Tennessee residents struggled with substance abuse disorder in the past year.

Drug Overdose Deaths in Tennessee

In 2019 alone, there were 2,089 overdose fatalities in Tennessee. That number has been steadily increasing over the past five years.

NOTE: Even though it’s 2019, this is actually the latest data. Data for 2020 will be released mid-2022 and I will update the table accordingly.

Tennessee Overdose Deaths By Year

Overdose Deaths Involving:2016201720182019
Benzodiazepine573504409395
Cocaine250306251334
Fentanyl2945007421079
Heroin260311367380
Psychostimulants187319462651
Any Drug1631177618182089

Non-Fatal Overdoses

Overdose hospital visits involving:2016201720182019
Benzodiazepines1260142511691003
Cocaine333415458585
Heroin306401372438
Amphetamines494502716601

What is the worst county in Tennessee for drugs?

Davidson County had the highest number of overdose deaths last year – 329 people, but only 46 per 100,000 residents.

When adjusted for population, Cheatham County has the highest rate of fatal overdoses in 2019 at 69 per 100,000 residents.

Highest Overdose Fatalities (Adjusted for Population)

  1. Cheatham County – 69
  2. Dickson County – 53
  3. Hickman County – 49
  4. Knox County – 48
  5. Rhea County – 47
  6. Davidson County – 46
  7. Wilson County – 45
  8. Henry County – 41
  9. Loudon County – 41
  10. Anderson County – 40

The Most Abused Drugs in Tennessee

Opioids were involved in 46,802 overdose deaths in Tennessee last year —nearly 70% of all overdose deaths.

Opioids include heroin, fentanyl and many other prescription drugs used to treat severe pain.

Prescription Drug Abuse in Tennessee

Opioid painkiller Tennessee residents filled 5,029,476 prescriptions for opioid painkillers in 2020.

The amount of opioid prescriptions filled in Tennessee has been steadily decreasing since 2016. This is likely due to crackdowns on “doctor shopping” and the increasing popularity of illicit synthetic opioids, like fentanyl.

  • Overdose deaths linked with prescription opioids decreased for the third year from a high of 739 deaths in 2016 to 515 deaths in 2019.
  • The rate of fentanyl overdoses increased substantially, from 11.6 per 100,000 residents in 2018 to
    16.8 per 100,000 residents in 2019 (a 44.8% increase). For the first year, fentanyl was involved in
    more than half of fatal drug overdoses” – from 2021 TN OD Report

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program in Tennessee

Doctors in Tennessee are required to check the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database (CSMD) before prescribing controlled substances, especially opioids and benzodiazepines.

The CSMD and surrounding laws allow the prescribing doctor to check if the individual has any other active controlled substance prescriptions from other doctors.

Prescription drug monitoring programs play a huge part in preventing doctors from overprescribing dangerous medications and from individuals seeing multiple doctors for multiple prescriptions.

Tennessee Alcohol Laws

What is the Tennessee state law on ID for alcohol?

Tennessee laws on alcohol require stores to check identification before selling any form of alcohol, including beer, wine and liquor.

  • The alcohol state laws in Tennessee, like the rest of the county, require you to be 21 years old or older to possess alcohol or enter bars.
  • If you are caught possessing alcohol between the ages of 18 and 21 years old, you can be charged with a misdemeanor of minor in possession of alcohol.
  • Using a fake ID to purchase alcohol underage is also a misdemeanor in Tennessee, including a mandatory one-year suspension of your driver’s license.

What are Tennessee alcohol driving laws?

It is illegal to consume alcohol or possess an open container while driving in Tennessee.

If you are caught drinking and driving you will be given a sobriety test. Any score above .08 Blood Alcohol Volume will result in a charge of Driving Under the Influence.

DUI’s are considered a serious crime in Tennessee, and punishment depends on how many times you have been caught in the past.

Tennessee Alcohol in Car Laws

Punishment1st DUI2nd DUI3rd DUI4th DUI
Fine$350 - $1,500$600 - $3,500$1,100 - $10,000$3,000 - $15,000
Licensed Revoked1 year2 years6 years8 years
Jailtime48 hours - 1 year45 days - 1 year120 days - 1 year1 year
Treatment ProgramYesYesYesYes

Other Tennessee Alcohol Laws

  • Alcohol in grocery stores in Tennessee – You can buy beer and wine at grocery stores in Tennessee. Liquor, on the other hand, can only be purchased at liquor stores.
  • Drinking in Tennessee state parks – Visitors are allowed to bring their own alcoholic beverages and drink them inside the park in designated areas.
  • Tennessee Alcohol Tax – Alcohol sales are subject to Tennessee’s 7% sales tax plus an additional “sin” tax. Distributors are responsible for paying the “sin tax”, but these costs are always passed onto the consumer in the form of higher prices.
    – Liquor: $4.46 per gallon
    – Beer: $1.29 per gallon
    – Wine: $1.21 per gallon
  • Rules for purchasing alcohol in Tennessee – You can buy alcohol in Tennessee from 8 AM until 11 PM Monday through Saturday, and from 10 AM until 11 PM on Sundays (new law as of 1/1/2019). Bars and restaurants are permitted to sell liquor-by-the-drink until 3 AM.

The Top 5 Tennessee Substance Abuse Articles

  • Can you make someone go to rehab in Tennessee?
  • Does your facility offer a dual diagnosis program. I specifically need help with severe OCD (along with substance abuse).
  • How much is it without insurance
  • What are the best drug and alcohol rehabs in Chattanooga?

More About Tennessee Substance Abuse

Follow New Tennessee Substance Abuse Questions
X

Follow New Tennessee Substance Abuse Questions

Everything you follow is combined into one update emailed to you weekly. Since you're not logged in, check your email after you submit to confirm.

E-mail : *

  • Can you make someone go to rehab in Tennessee?

    Watching someone you love struggle with addiction is painful, especially when they refuse help. Tennessee does not have laws like…
    Read More
    Dr. Brian Wind Ph.D.
    (13)

  • Does your facility offer a dual diagnosis program. I specifically need help with severe OCD (along with substance abuse).

    JourneyPure is a reputable addiction treatment provider that offers comprehensive services to individuals struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders…
    Read More
    cjpeters
    (0)

  • How much is it without insurance

    Hi there, the answer to your question is definitely contingent on what you’re looking for! Give our admissions team a…
    Read More
    admin
    (0)

  • What are the best drug and alcohol rehabs in Chattanooga?

    Looking for addiction treatment in Chattanooga, TN? There are options, even if you don’t have insurance. Check our list of…
    Read More
    Dr. Brian Wind Ph.D.
    (1)
  • Ask Your Question (Free)
  • Doctors Usually Respond in 72 Hours
  • Read 30 Other Questions Now

Last question answered 10 weeks ago

What now?

Get more answers.

  • Get an Email With Updates on This Topic

    Subscribe Now
    X

    Subscribe Now

    Everything you follow is combined into one update emailed to you weekly. Since you're not logged in, check your email after you submit to confirm.

    E-mail : *

  • Talk About Your Options for Treatment

  • Share This Link on Social or with a Friend

    The link has been copied

Rehab Locations

  • Rehab Centers
  • Rehabs in Tennessee
  • Rehabs in Kentucky
  • Lexington Rehab
  • Nashville Rehab
  • Rehab Louisville
  • Rehab Knoxville
  • Alcoholism Definition
  • Signs of Liver Damage
  • Wet Brain
  • Relapse
  • Subutex
  • Suboxone Clinic
  • Is Addiction a Disease
One of only 20% of healthcare centers in the world to earn CARF.
An A+ rated facility by the U.S. Better Business Bureau.
  • © 2021 JourneyPure. All rights reserved
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
X
X