Knox County has experienced a spike in drug-related cases as a result of the newest wave of the opioid crisis. According to a report in 2023, Knox County drug-related cases of death involving 15-24-year-olds saw an increase of nearly 40%.
Courtney Fuson, the director of communications for the Metro Drug Coalition, talked about the history of the opioid crisis and what problems the current iteration poses.
“The first wave of the opioid crisis began in the 90s when we began seeing an increase in overdose deaths involving prescription opioids for pain. Tennessee was one of the hardest hit states, with a particularly high prescribing rate. In the 2000s, we began seeing an increase in heroin use, which is considered the second wave,” Fuson said. “We are now facing synthetic fentanyl, which has increased potency and frequently contaminates the drug supply.”
It was the reaction to the first two waves, restricting access to opioid prescriptions, that has opened the door for fentanyl to become a threat.
“Lab testing revealed that seven out of every 10 pills seized by the DEA contained a lethal dose of fentanyl, so carrying Narcan, making sure that you do not use alone, and using fentanyl test strips can all increase safety if you do choose to use,” Fuson said.
While the opioid crisis impacts individuals across the spectrums of race, gender and class, Fuson detailed which groups have historically been hit the hardest here in Tennessee.
“Those aged 35-44 have consistently experienced the highest rates of overdose. Males consistently experience more overdoses than females, and white Tennesseans experience the highest rate of overdose,” Fuson said.
Fuson also mentioned a spike in overdoses during COVID-19, but reported that these trends are decreasing as resources become more readily available to the community.
An addiction from the outside eye can lead to a stigma around misuse — Fuson noted some of the aspects of substance disorders make it difficult to comprehend, as it has the ability to rewire the human brain.
“Many people see addiction as a choice, and it can be difficult to understand why a person with a substance use disorder makes the choices that they do,” Fuson said. “Understanding the brain science of addiction helps people to understand that their loved one has a brain disorder that makes it difficult for them to practice self-control; they are not intentionally harming themselves or others.”
Despite the immense proliferation of information and resources to combat this crisis, this re-emergence of the epidemic has been increasingly putting young, college-aged individuals at risk.
Fuson explained this discrepancy and why college-aged individuals are at a higher risk of suffering from substance misuse or overdose while other groups have seen a decrease in risk.
“In Knox County, the 2023 Drug-Related Death Report released by the Knox County Regional Forensics Center revealed that the sharpest increase in overdose deaths occurred in those aged 15-24,” Fuson said. “So it is increasingly affecting those who are college-aged, particularly through poly-pharmacy, the use of multiple substances at once, and counterfeit pills.”
Because of the deeply intertwined relationship between college campuses and drug use, this is likely to be an ongoing battle in the coming years.
Given the fact that it can be challenging for students to say no to drugs, and some don’t even want to abstain, Fuson believes that the best thing to do is be educated and prepared no matter what.
While there have been some improvements in the last few years, the opioid crisis continues to represent a massive problem both within our country, state and upcoming generations.
To help facilitate this, the University’s Center for Health Education and Wellness regularly provides narcan and the training to use it free of charge.
Furthermore, Metro Drug Coalition has a long list of recovery support and substance misuse resources students can consult if they need support.
