Overdose Deaths Climb In Tennessee

NASHVILLE, TN — More Tennesseans than ever are dying from drug overdoses, according to newly released statistics from the state health department.

Tennessee Department of Health data show 1,631 Tennesseans died from drug overdoses in 2016, an increase of 12 percent from the 1,451 overdose deaths recorded among Tennessee residents in 2015.

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"Each of these numbers represents a person, with family and friends who are now facing the loss of someone dear to them to a cause that is preventable,” said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner.. “The rate of increase in these deaths is slower than in the previous year, but it is still a horrible increase, and as we feared, our data show illicit drugs like fentanyl are now driving the increase."

Overdoses of fentanyl, a rapid-onset opioid, killed 294 people in Tennessee in 2016, a dramatic increase of 74 percent from 2015. The biggest spike was in people aged 25 to 34, of whom 114 died of fentanyl overdoses in 2016, a 171 percent increase from the year before.

“We are alarmed by the growing number of Tennesseans dying as a result of fentanyl, and by the changing demographic of those who died,” said TDH Chief Medical Officer David Reagan. “This tells us we need to put additional focus on prevention of substance abuse, particularly for those younger than 25, as we believe people are initiating their use of illegal drugs such as fentanyl before that time.”

Heroin overdose deaths were up 26 percent in 2016.

Deaths from stimulants like methamphetamine nearly doubled among people aged 25 to 44. Overall, deaths with a combination of opioids and stimulants were up 70 percent in 2016.

Buprenorphine — or Subutex — which is often used to treat opioid addiction, resulted in 67 deaths in 2016. Of those, 61 percent were found to also be using a tranquilizer such as Valium or Xanax at the time of their death. Combining those drugs often results in dangerous respiratory depression.

Despite the increases, the state's chief medical examiner believes overdose deaths are still under-reported statewide.

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