NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The state announced that its Regional Overdose Prevention Specialists gave out 35,000 units of the overdose drug, Naloxone, from October 2017 until now.
Naloxone is used to reverse the deadly effects of an opioid overdose in minutes.
There are 20 specialists in the program across the state, helping to educate people about addiction and how to use the overdose drug.
The state recorded more than 2,000 lives saved, but many could be under-reported because of stigma.
"We don't want it to be a barrier to getting another dose of Naloxone for you to have to say how to use it so we know that 2,000 lives have been saved through this program, and we believe the actual total is much higher," said Matthew Parriott, TN Dept. of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services.
More than 14,000 units went to law enforcement. The program is being funded through federal grants.
