About One tennessee
ONE Tennessee: Combating the Opioid Epidemic through Collaboration and Information Sharing
ONE Tennessee is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to fighting the opioid epidemic in Tennessee. The organization was founded with the aim of bringing together health professionals and communities to share information, collaborate, and work towards a common goal of reducing opioid addiction and overdose deaths.
The opioid epidemic has been a major public health crisis in the United States for several years now. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2019 alone. Of these deaths, nearly 50,000 involved opioids such as prescription painkillers, heroin, or fentanyl.
Tennessee has been particularly hard hit by this crisis. In 2018, there were more than 1,800 overdose deaths in the state – a rate of nearly five per day. This is why ONE Tennessee was established – to bring together stakeholders from across the state to address this issue head-on.
ONE Tennessee's mission is simple: to reduce opioid addiction and overdose deaths through collaboration among healthcare providers and community organizations. The organization achieves this by providing education on best practices for prescribing opioids; promoting alternative pain management strategies; increasing access to treatment for substance use disorders; supporting harm reduction efforts such as naloxone distribution; and advocating for policy changes at both the state and federal levels.
One of ONE Tennessee's key initiatives is its Prescription Safety Program (PSP). This program provides healthcare providers with tools they need to safely prescribe opioids while minimizing risk of addiction or overdose among their patients. PSP offers training on topics such as screening patients for risk factors before prescribing opioids; using prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) effectively; counseling patients on safe storage and disposal of medications; recognizing signs of addiction or misuse among patients; tapering off opioids when appropriate; and referring patients who need additional help to treatment providers.
Another important aspect of ONE Tennessee's work is its community outreach efforts. The organization partners with local organizations and coalitions to provide education and resources to individuals and families affected by opioid addiction. This includes hosting town hall meetings, distributing educational materials, and providing training on how to administer naloxone – a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.
ONE Tennessee also advocates for policy changes at the state and federal levels that can help reduce the harm caused by opioids. This includes supporting legislation that would increase funding for addiction treatment programs; expand access to naloxone; improve PDMPs; and promote alternative pain management strategies such as physical therapy or non-opioid medications.
In conclusion, ONE Tennessee is a vital organization in the fight against the opioid epidemic in Tennessee. By bringing together healthcare providers, community organizations, policymakers, and individuals affected by addiction, ONE Tennessee is making a real difference in reducing overdose deaths and improving public health outcomes across the state. If you are interested in learning more about this organization or getting involved with their work, visit their website today!