Overdose Surveillance

What is an opioid?

Opioids are a broad range of natural and manufactured (synthetic) drugs that are commonly used for pain relief.

What kind of drugs are opioids?

Opiods are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin as well as powerful pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin^®), hydrocodone (Vicodin^®), codeine, morphine, fentanyl, and many others.

What form(s) do opioids come in?

Opioids come in tablets, capsules or liquid.

What are three main groups of opioid drugs?

Naturally occurring: These are made from the liquid harvested from the unripe seed pods of the opium poppy flower. Examples include codeine and morphine.

Semi-synthetic: These are made by modifying the chemical structure of a naturally occurring opioid. Examples include heroin and oxycodone.

Synthetic: These compounds are manufactured chemicals. Examples include meperidine and methadone.

What are some common opioids?

Tennessee REDLINE

If  you or someone you know is in need of referral services have them call the Tennessee REDLINE.

The Tennessee REDLINE (1-800-889-9789) is a toll-free information and referral line coordinated by the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug and other Addiction Services (TAADAS) and funded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS). The purpose of the TN REDLINE is to provide accurate, up-to-date alcohol, drug,  gambling problems,  and other addiction information and referrals to all citizens of Tennessee at their request. The REDLINE provides referrals for Co-Occurring Alcohol & Drug disorders that arise along with Mental Health disorders. Information specialists are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer questions and provide information and referrals on alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and gambling.

Overdose Data to Action

Overdose Data to Action is a 3-year cooperative agreement that began in September 2019 and focuses on the complex and changing nature of the drug overdose epidemic and highlights the need for an interdisciplinary, comprehensive, and cohesive public health approach. Funds awarded as part of this agreement will support state, territorial, county, and city health departments in obtaining high quality, more comprehensive, and timelier data on overdose morbidity and mortality and using those data to inform prevention and response efforts.

Recipients will be able to do a number of surveillance activities to monitor and gather data about the scope and nature of the overdose problem under the new cooperative agreement:Collect and disseminate emergency department data on suspected overdoses categorized as “all drug,” “all opioid,” “heroin,” and “all stimulant.”Collect and disseminate descriptions of drug overdose death circumstances using death certificates, toxicology reports, and medical examiner/coroner reports.Implement innovative surveillance activities to support interventions. These activities help increase comprehensiveness of surveillance data and allow jurisdictions to tailor their surveillance efforts to specific needs. 

Harold “Hal” Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program: Data-Driven Responses to Prescription Drug Abuse

The Tennessee Department of Health was awarded the Harold “Hal” Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program: Data-Driven Responses to Prescription Drug Abuse Grant in September 2016 by the Office of Justice Programs under the US Department of Justice. The primary purpose of the Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) is to enhance the capacity of regulatory and law enforcement agencies and public health officials to work together to collect and analyze controlled substance prescription data and other scheduled chemical products through a centralized database administered by an authorized state agency. Through this grant the Tennessee Department of Health is enhancing the existing collaboration between the health department (Tennessee Department of Health), law enforcement (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation [TBI]) and substance abuse services (Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services [TDMHSAS]) to better understand the progression from drug use to drug abuse to drug addiction in the state of Tennessee. This grant will also give the team the ability to pool resources and identify abuse trends and “hot spots” of activity within the state. By utilizing data sources and sharing key data from all three organizations, and collaborating with community coalitions, we will be able to target our efforts to areas of need with a focused rapid response team. This team will be able to connect with individuals who are at risk of diverting prescription drugs or transitioning to illicit drugs and recommend or deliver treatment. With the information provided to the team they will be able to focus their efforts on where interventions are most necessary.

Controlled Substance Monitoring Database (CSMD)

In accordance with the Controlled Substance Monitoring Act of 2002, the Tennessee Department of Health established a database to monitor the dispensing of Schedule II, III, IV & V controlled substances. Data collection began for all dispensers on December 1, 2006. The Prescription Safety Act of 2012 enhances the monitoring capabilities of the database.  The Board of Pharmacy and the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database (CSMD) Committee establish, administer, maintain and direct the functioning of the database in accordance with these statutes. You will find additional information at this link regarding the CSMD.