SMART Initiative - Substance Misuse and Addiction Resource for Tennessee

09/04/2026

Lessons from , where deaths are still increasing, despite reducing in other parts of the country, such as Tennessee.

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Fentanyl first emerged as a threat on the streets of New Mexico more than 10 years ago, in the form of counterfeit pills. Recently however, deaths from accidental exposure to powdered fentanyl—as outlined in a recent statewide health advisory from The...

09/03/2026

" is a testament to the strength of the American Spirit and the promise of a second chance. This month, we stand with those on the road to recovery and the families and communities who support them along the way. Together, we will help more Americans break free from addiction and lead healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives."

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During National Recovery Month, we celebrate the more than 23 million Americans who have found a pathway from addiction to recovery, we recognize those

09/02/2026

From our friends at the Sycamore Institute:
"A strong is essential to Tennessee’s growth and prosperity. is one way the state supports this goal. It encompasses a broad range of programs and initiatives that help Tennesseans build skills, pursue education and training opportunities, connect with employers, and advance in the labor market. This report provides an overview of programs and initiatives in to help navigate the state’s workforce development landscape and understand how its various components fit together."

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Workforce programs in Tennessee vary in design and scope—using mechanisms like grants, scholarships, technical assistance, and direct services to support schools, employers, and jobseekers. This report offers an overview of workforce development programs in Tennessee.

09/01/2026

"In addition, also seized over two kilograms of , over one kilogram of , and over half-kilogram quantities of powder ***ne and crack."

Following a joint operation targeting the illegal sale of drugs and fi****ms in Nashville, 44 people were arrested and more than 100 guns were seized, officials announced Monday.

08/31/2026

International Overdose Awareness Day is a reminder of why we at UT SMART work hard to help local governments. The fight to is complex, and involves multiple considerations. One death is too many - and there are actions we can take to save lives.

08/31/2026

Such a pleasure to join our sister agency University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services to present to economic development professionals on the latest data, resources and strategies related to recovery-ready , as well as to discuss ways UT SMART can work with local partners to overcome .

08/28/2026

Last week, SMART Field Services Coordinator Channie Cavitt graduated from IPS's latest training series, Facilitation Skills for Success, which provides already-experienced educators with advanced techniques for modern presentation contexts. Next stop: even more effective workshops on overcoming the overdose crisis for county leaders!

08/27/2026

"In 2025, $2 could buy a pill containing two milligrams of fentanyl, according to law enforcement sources. Those two milligrams of fentanyl are the equivalent of 60 milligrams of he**in, according to Caulkins, which in 1983 cost $46. That represents a 96 percent drop in the price of an opioid high from the early 1980s to 2025, even without adjusting for inflation."

“When the price drops, people use more,” said Jonathan Caulkins, a Carnegie Mellon professor who researches drug prices and policy. “When they use more, they die more.”

"One main reason for the price drop has been a transformation in how and where drugs are made. Until a decade ago, drugs were largely grown on vast farms that were costly to operate and relatively easy for law enforcement to identify. Today, many are synthesized from cheap chemicals in labs across the globe. is the most infamous, but the United Nations has identified more than 1,500 novel psychoactive substances — such as fentanyl but also , , and ."

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The “war on drugs” sought to reduce substance abuse by driving up prices and lowering demand. Today, street drugs are less expensive and more dangerous than ever.

08/26/2026

Incredible time at County Officials Orientation Program (COOP) by UT County Technical Assistance Service. SMART Executive Director Jennifer Tourville provided an orientation to hundreds of new Tennessee county officials to the and the related services SMART provides. So thankful for the opportunity to help leaders fight back against the crisis!

08/26/2026

"In theory, the threat of an or death should deter users. But, Boog said, a dealer whose product causes an overdose can actually attract customers; it indicates a strong batch. She added that unscrupulous dealers sometimes deliberately sell a few capsules that they know are potent enough to cause an overdose — to invite more business.

“They call ’em ‘death packs,’” Boog said."

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Five decades after the “war on drugs” sought to make substance abuse unaffordable, illicit drugs are cheaper and more powerful than ever. A visit to Baltimore shows why.