Why "Knowing More" About Tennessee Guidelines Matters to our State

The opioid crisis is not an abstract problem. It’s here, in Tennessee, claiming lives at a devastating pace.

Tennessee leads the nation at 1,447 OUD diagnoses per 100,000 patients.

In 2023 alone, 3,616 Tennesseans died from drug overdoses. More than 75% of those deaths involved opioids.

And notably, 645 were linked to prescription opioids—a stark reminder that prescribing practices can either save lives or contribute to loss.

The numbers behind the crisis are staggering:

• Overdose deaths: Tennessee’s rate is 52.3 per 100,000 people, among the highest in the nation.

• Nonfatal overdoses: In 2023, there were 19,034 outpatient visits and 6,754 inpatient visits due to nonfatal overdoses. Many more never made it to the hospital—first responders revive them, only for the cycle to continue.

• Addiction prevalence: Nearly 964,000 Tennesseans (16.1% of our population) live with a substance use disorder.

These aren’t just statistics. Behind every number is is a fellow Tennessean, representing patients, families, and communities across our state. And for prescribers of controlled substances—physicians, PAs, APRNs, and pharmacists—each one of those numbers represent a responsibility to "know more."

Why Prescribers Must “Know More” About Best Practices in Prescribing

Improper prescribing doesn’t just risk patient lives. It also carries serious professional consequences:

• Practice restrictions

• License suspension or revocation

• Criminal liability for violations of Tennessee law

  
  

The Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners expects prescribers to treat its policies as having the full force and effect of law. Failure to understand and follow prescribing guidelines is both a patient-safety risk and a career-ending mistake.

That’s why effective education about the Tennessee guidelines is not optional—it’s essential for both you and our fellow citizens.

Why This Course Matters

A recent national analysis showed a 40% jump in opioid use disorder diagnoses among the commercially insured from 2021 to 2024, with Tennessee leading the nation at 1,447 per 100,000 patients.

This crisis isn’t just happening elsewhere—it’s happening in your waiting rooms, pharmacies, hospitals, and emergency departments.

Every prescriber who commits to “knowing more” about safe prescribing practices contributes to ensuring there are no more unnecessary addictions and no more preventable deaths.

The Call to Action

The opioid epidemic is not just a public health issue—it’s a moral one. Every prescription matters. Every practice pattern is important. Every decision counts. As a Tennessee prescriber, you’re on the front line of this fight.

Enroll now in the training.

Protect your license. Protect your patients. Protect your community. Protect your State.