TDH: Report finds 15% increase in overdose deaths in 2019

A report by the Tennessee Dept. of Health shows overdose deaths rose yet again in 2019.

Health officials released in their 2021 overdose deaths report that over 2,000 Tennesseans died from drug overdoses in 2019, a 15% increase from the year prior. 2020 figures are still preliminary and the report suggests it could become the state’s deadliest year for overdoses due in part to effects from the COVID-19 pandemic.

TDH says some positive news in 2019 and 2020 is that indicators in statistics point towards a shifting away from prescription pain relievers in the ongoing opioid epidemic.

A link to the report can be found by clicking here.

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