State sticking to its approach on opioid epidemic
The number of overdose deaths in Tennessee has increased each year since 1999, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Josh Weil (left) and Diana Abu-Obeid helped distribute opioid overdose reversal kits last summer in Frayser. Weil is a Shelby County-based addiction prevention worker for the state. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian file)
In the war against opioid overdose deaths, Tennessee is winning one battle — doctors are prescribing pain pills at much lower rates — but still losing other battles.
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Opioid Epidemic Narcan Cameron SextonIan Round
Ian Round is The Daily Memphian’s state government reporter based in Nashville. He came to Tennessee from Maryland, where he reported on local politics for Baltimore Brew. He earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland in December 2019.