The Fentanyl Crisis in Tennessee: Public Awareness Efforts
Learn about the alarming surge in fentanyl and opioid usage in Tennessee, the risks associated with fentanyl, and the pressing need for enhanced public awareness campaigns to address this growing crisis.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
You are allowed to download the files provided on this website for personal or commercial use, subject to the condition that they are used lawfully. All files are the property of their respective owners.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Public Awareness Effort Public Awareness Effort Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference General Robert J. Nash General Robert J. Nash
The The Issue at Hand Issue at Hand Significant increase of fentanyl and other opioid usage across Tennessee Overdose rates on the rise Lack of knowledge about fentanyl and its deadly nature Not as many awareness campaigns available in Tennessee
What Is Fentanyl? What Is Fentanyl? Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid - the most prevalent in the United States Opioids are medications that react with receptors in the brain to induce temporary euphoria (common forms - morphine, oxycodone, heroin, etc.) Often legally prescribed as a slow-release patch for people who have long-term, severe pain Has made its way (illegally) to the streets as powder or in pill form, where it becomes increasingly more dangerous
Why Is It dangerous? Why Is It dangerous? Fentanyl is up to 100 times stronger than morphine Sold on the streets often disguised or mixed in with other drugs, meaning the user is unaware of what they are taking Just 2 milligrams is considered lethal to the average person, the size of Abraham Lincoln s nose on a penny
F Fentanyl Trends in Tennessee entanyl Trends in Tennessee Overdose deaths involving fentanyl - largely due to illicitly manufactured fentanyl - increased over 800 percent from 2013- 2017 alone. In 2017, Tennessee providers wrote 94.4 opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons. This was the third-highest prescribing rate in the country and 1.5 times greater than the average U.S. rate of 58.7 prescriptions. (Stats fromTennessee s Annual Overdose Report - 2019)
Background Background Research from National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that overdoses in teens is on the rise, mostly due to heroin and fentanyl As previously stated, there weren t as many resources/information out there about fentanyl Were unsure about the level of understanding of fentanyl across the state Important to hear from teens across the state
Research Research Teens were a huge part in making this effort come to life District Attorneys across the state conducted 15 in-person focus groups and spoke to over 160 middle and high school students across the state Used groups as an opportunity to gauge awareness of opioids and fentanyl and determine what messaging would resonate with their age group (ages 13-18)
Findings Findings Students were aware of a drug epidemic and knew that overdoses were on the rise Several students had personal experience While some groups knew what fentanyl and opioids were, many students did not Primary source of information came from social media, TV and family members Reactions to examples of ads and infographics helped direct creative for campaign
Awareness Effort Elements Awareness Effort Elements
Here is Angies story. Angie is a Tennessee resident who lost her 16-year-old son to an overdose a few years ago.
Fentanyl Website Fentanyl Website TheDeadliestHigh.com
Get Involved Get Involved Follow the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference on social media to keep up with the latest Also make sure to follow General Nash on social Share content to your own social media pages Visit TheDeadliestHigh.com to learn more
