We recently marked International Overdose Awareness Day with a blog about our efforts to lower the risk of harm in our own community. But the effort to prevent overdoses doesn’t end when an awareness day passes — it’s an ongoing, community effort with a mission to make a true difference.

Sept. 21 is designated as National Opioid & Substance Awareness Day, offering another opportunity to shine a light on the issues of opioid use and overdoses. Keep reading to learn about these problems within the greater Chattanooga area and what Cempa Community Care is doing to help prevent fatal overdoses.

Facing a Challenge
Opioids have been used in some form for centuries, dating back at least 8,000 years to the historical region of Mesopotamia. The use of these drugs in modern times, though, has exploded in the last few decades as medications containing oxycodone were brought to market and widely prescribed.

While these medications are only legally available via a prescription, they’re widely available and traded illegally. The availability of these drugs has led to an increased number of opioid addictions, as well as addictions to other related substances often taken alongside an opioid. 

The numbers are staggering. In the state of Tennessee, there were more than 4.33 million opioid prescriptions written in 2022 alone. With opioids flooding the market, the number of overdoses also increases — in 2021, there were 3,814 drug overdose deaths, 20,485 nonfatal overdose-related outpatient medical visits, and 7,008 nonfatal overdose-related inpatient hospital visits. 

Lowering the Number of Fatal Overdoses
While the ultimate goal would be to limit the use of opioids and other substances, the reality is much more complicated. Drug abuse is a multifaceted issue, and one that can’t be solved quickly or with a one-size-fits-all solution.

Because of that, many programs related to opioid and substance use focus on what’s known as “harm reduction,” which essentially means lowering the risk of death and serious harm related to drug use. STEP TN, a program offered through Cempa, offers these services within our community.

STEP TN, which is short for the Syringe Trade & Education Program of Tennessee, seeks to lower the potential for harm related to drugs through a combination of educational outreach and services. The program does this in multiple ways, including providing needle exchange and offering testing for HIV and hepatitis. 

There’s also a more visible way that STEP TN is stepping out into the community — by distributing Narcan, a medication that can prevent fatal overdose. The active ingredient in Narcan, naloxone, essentially reverses opioid overdose by blocking the effects of opioids in the brain and restoring a normal breathing pattern.

An overdose can take effect quickly and cut off oxygen to the brain, heart, and other essential organs. Because of that, it’s essential to provide naloxone immediately in the case of a suspected overdose.

To do that, naloxone needs to be readily available. That’s where the STEP TN program is seeking to make a difference. Among other efforts, the program is distributing naloxone to businesses throughout the community, including bars, restaurants, and other venues. Businesses that have naloxone on hand are identified with a sticker on the front door or in another easily noticeable place.

Previously, Narcan was available only through a prescription. Though the medication was recently approved as an over-the-counter medication, the cost and lack of transportation to a store selling the product may still keep many people who need it from accessing it.

Having naloxone available strategically throughout the area will help save lives. 

Making an Impact
Thus far, STEP TN has distributed naloxone in more than 20 businesses in downtown Chattanooga. The hope is that many more businesses will soon join the effort.

If you own a business that’s interested in participating, getting involved is simple.

“If you’d like to participate, contact me at sweathers@cempa.org or call our office at 423-834-7374,” says Sam Weathers, Harm Reduction Specialist with STEP TN. “I’m more than happy to schedule a visit and provide the Narcan and training on how to use it, how to recognize the signs of an overdose, and whatever else you would like to know about harm reduction.”

It’s a small step, but it can have a big impact on lowering fatal overdoses in our community.

“We are currently living during an opioid crisis,” Weathers says. “The harm reduction approach is to meet people where they are and provide necessary tools and items for their safety. Within these services, we provide a safe space that is a huge first step into recovery and treatment. 

“Everyone knows someone, is someone, loves someone, or lost someone during this crisis, and my goal is to treat our participants with respect and empathy to get them the care they need.”

Cempa Community Care is proud to support STEP TN. You can learn more about the program, what it offers, and current operational hours on our website.