A Tennessee nurse practitioner who called himself the “Rock Doc” has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for illegally prescribing thousands of doses of opioids including oxycodone and fentanyl in return for money and sex, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
Tennessee’s new attorney general says he’s a lawyer, not a politician. Here’s how he sees his role on issues like abortion.
Since taking office on Sept. 1, Skrmetti has already been more open to the media than his predecessor. Skrmetti says he wants to be more transparent so people understand what it is the AG does in Tennessee.
Nashville lawsuit joins others seeking compensation for babies harmed by opioids
A lawsuit filed in Davidson County Chancery Court seeks compensation on behalf of six babies born to mothers addicted to opioids. It’s the latest in a string of similar suits across the state, including one that has resulted in a settlement.
Nashville health officials want more people carrying Narcan as overdoses spike, but how?
Public health officials are encouraging more Tennessee residents to carry the overdose reversal drug naloxone because of a sharp rise in drug deaths. But acquiring doses of the pricey Narcan nasal spray takes some maneuvering.
In Tennessee, your opioid prescription will soon come with an offer for overdose reversal meds
Opioid prescriptions in Tennessee will soon come with an offer for overdose reversal medication. A new state law awaiting Gov. Bill Lee’s signature requires physicians to be more frank about the risks associated with painkillers.
At a Tennessee crossroads, two pharmacies, a monkey and millions of pills
Federal prosecutors say a Celina pharmacy courted opioid seekers by filling dangerous prescriptions and offering cash handouts to keep customers coming back, including its own currency called “monkey bucks.”
Tennessee’s $600M opioid settlement win will be split more than 100 ways, over the next 18 years
In the the biggest such windfall since the nationwide tobacco settlement, money from the $26 billion opioid settlement could begin flowing to Tennessee as soon as April.
To combat rising overdoses, a prevention specialist must first overcome the stigma of addiction
As overdoses rise, prevention specialist Monti Herring, who was once unhoused and misusing substances himself, hopes Tennessee businesses will be open to his trainings.
Tennessee Encourages States And Cities To Drop Opioid Litigation And Join $26B Settlement
The attorneys general in Tennessee and North Carolina have reached a settlement with drug companies that could be one of the largest payouts for opioid litigation. Now, they have to convince 4,000 cities, counties and states to drop their pending litigation and sign on.
COVID Was Bad, But In Nashville Drug Overdoses Were Deadlier in 2020
While COVID-19 claimed hundreds of lives in Nashville last year, drug overdoses killed even more people. Fatalities related to drugs spiked by nearly one-third compared to 2019, which was already a record year.