Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam unveiled a plan called “Prescription for Success” on Tuesday that aims to prevent and treat prescription drug abuse in the state.
Haslam and Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) Commissioner E. Douglas Varney were joined by other state officials in announcing the plan on Tuesday. Prescription for Success would take steps to reduce the amount of controlled substances dispersed in the state and to ramp up early intervention and treatment efforts.
“Tennessee has a serious problem with prescription drug abuse, and this widespread and complex issue demands coordinated solutions,” Haslam said. “‘Prescription for Success’ is a comprehensive, multi-year strategic plan that will involve different agencies across state government to reduce the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs so Tennesseans can live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.”
It’s estimated that five percent of Tennessee’s population, or 221,000 people, used prescription opioids in the last year for non-medical reasons. More than 69,000 people in the state are in need of treatment for prescription opioids addiction.
Prescription for Success will foster more coordination between state agencies to reduce overdoses, increase prescription drug disposal sites and improve addiction recovery services.
“The abuse of prescription drugs, specifically opioids, is an epidemic in Tennessee, with disastrous and severe consequences to Tennesseans of every age,” Varney said. “Things such as overdose deaths, emergency department visits, hospital costs, children in state custody and people incarcerated for drug-related crimes can all be prevented and/or treated if we all work together and fight this deadly problem.”