Select Maps

Map 1 Map 2
Opioid Indicators
Drug-related Deaths
Age-adjusted Drug Poisoning Deaths per 100,000 (Modeled)
Opioid Prescriptions per 100 Persons
Number of 30 Days Supply of Opioids per Part D Enrollee
Vulnerable County Rank
HIV Indicators
Number of People Living with Diagnosed HIV
Number or People Living with Diagnosed HIV per 100,000
New HIV Diagnoses
Counties and States included in the Ending the HIV Epidemic Plan
Services Indicators
Facilities Providing Substance Abuse Services
Facilities Providing Some Medication Assisted Treatment
Facilities Providing All Medication Assisted Treatments
Providers Licensed to Administer Buprenorphine
Syringe Exchange Programs
Distance to Nearest SSP
Distance to Nearest Substance Abuse Facility providing MAT
Other Indicators
Unemployment Rate
Percent of People without Health Insurance
 
Show news

Tennessee Opioid Epidemic

Most Vulnerable Counties

The CDC has identified 220 counties at risk of outbreaks of HIV and/or hepatitis C as a result of the opioid epidemic. These represent only the top 5% of counties in the nation based on 6 factors assessed. Health officials responsible for these counties should be particularly sensitive to ensure targeted, evidence-based interventions and services are available. The article abstract is available here.

  • Hancock County National Rank: 13
  • Jackson County National Rank: 19
  • Benton County National Rank: 24
  • Scott County National Rank: 26
  • Perry County National Rank: 33
  • Hardin County National Rank: 36
  • Cocke County National Rank: 41
  • Cannon County National Rank: 42
  • Pickett County National Rank: 43
  • Campbell County National Rank: 46
  • Carter County National Rank: 59
  • Clay County National Rank: 64
  • Grainger County National Rank: 66
  • Hawkins County National Rank: 71
  • Union County National Rank: 74
  • Greene County National Rank: 79
  • Claiborne County National Rank: 80
  • Humphreys County National Rank: 83
  • Roane County National Rank: 92
  • Overton County National Rank: 95
  • DeKalb County National Rank: 102
  • Rhea County National Rank: 103
  • Meigs County National Rank: 105
  • Morgan County National Rank: 106
  • Fentress County National Rank: 115
  • Macon County National Rank: 116
  • White County National Rank: 134
  • Hamblen County National Rank: 138
  • Bledsoe County National Rank: 139
  • Smith County National Rank: 140
  • McNairy County National Rank: 141
  • Polk County National Rank: 142
  • Jefferson County National Rank: 149
  • Sullivan County National Rank: 151
  • Wayne County National Rank: 160
  • Lewis County National Rank: 168
  • Johnson County National Rank: 169
  • Lawrence County National Rank: 172
  • Washington County National Rank: 198
  • Warren County National Rank: 203
  • Lake County National Rank: 216

State Opioid Policies

Several policies can mitigate the impact of increased opioid use. These include legislation permitting the operation of syringe exchange programs, good samaritan laws that provide legal protections to bystanders who call for help in the event of an overdose, and state Medicaid coverage of methadone for the treatment of opioid use disorder. In addition, states experiencing, or at an elevated risk of, experiencing HIV or hepatitis outbreaks may use federal DHHS funds to support syringe service programs. In order to be eligible to do so, state, local, tribal, and territorial health departments must consult with CDC and provide evidence demonstrating risk.

Learn More Syringe Exchange Programs are Legal (2021)
Learn More Good Samaritan Law Protects from Parole/Probation Violations (2018)
Learn More State Medicaid Program does Not Cover Methadone (2017)

State Trends

Drug-related Deaths per 100,000
Inpatient Stays Resulting from Opioids per 100,000
Estimated Acute Hepatitis C Cases per 100,000
New HIV Diagnoses per 100,000

Federal Funding to Tennessee

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) makes grants to fight the opioid epidemic through several programs. The largest of these are the Opioid State Targeted Response (STR) and State Opioid Response (SOR) grants. Several smaller grant programs are also available.

STR grants: $13,815,100 (2018)
SOR grants: $18,274,300 (2018)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides leadership in improving public health by working with community, state, national, and international partners in surveillance, research, and prevention and evaluation activities. The Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP) and the Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH) are responsible for HIV and viral hepatitis control activities, respectively. The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) provides grants to states for both illicit and prescription opioid monitoring and research.

HIV/AIDS: $12,602,700 (2022)
Viral Hepatitis: $222,156 (2022)
Injury - Opioids: $6,700,490 (2022)

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides a comprehensive system of care that includes primary medical care and essential support services for people living with HIV who are uninsured or underinsured. The Program works with cities, states, and local community-based organizations to provide HIV care and treatment services to more than half a million people each year.

Ryan White: $46,991,100 (2016)

The Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program is the only Federal program dedicated to the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. Under the HOPWA Program, HUD makes grants to local communities, States, and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

HOPWA: $7,001,600 (2021)

* Small values are suppressed to preserve confidentiality. State-level data include the suppressed estimates so county rows will not sum to state totals.

Data Explorer