We’re Working to Prevent Overdose and Address Opioid Use Disorder in Tennessee
Since 2018, ONE Tennessee has worked with health professionals and health provider organizations, state agencies, community organizations, and individuals committed to reducing the impact of opioids in our state and communities. These collaborative efforts have helped to educate, engage leaders and deliver effective support to reduce stigma, increase access to evidence-based services, and achieve long-term recovery for individuals and sustainable programs for organizations.
Foster and facilitate collaboration
ONE Tennessee was formed in response to gaps identified during the “Turning the Tide: Collaborating to Prevent Opioid Abuse” Summit convened in April 2017, and has worked alongside with health professional associations, state agencies and community anti-drug coalitions to share information, perspectives and resources in response to the opioid epidemic, focusing on education of clinicians to promote adoption of evidence-based practices.
In May 2021, ONE Tennessee organized the Tennessee Opioid Prevention and Safety Summit, convening leaders from across the state to share updates, identify priority needs and recommend strategies to address gaps and accelerate progress in the fight to protect people and communities from opioid misuse.
Since that time, ONE Tennessee has disseminated information and engaged leaders through participation in conferences organized by the Tennessee Primary Care Association, the Tennessee Pharmacists Association, and the Rural Health Association of Tennessee.
In recognition of ONE Tennessee’s commitment to collaboration, the Tennessee Pharmacists Association recognized ONE Tennessee as its 2023 Partner in Excellence.
Coordination of medical, mental and behavioral health, and social services
Many who seek help for opioid use disorder face significant barriers in our fragmented service delivery system, which makes it difficult for patients, clinicians and other service providers to offer timely, convenient and affordable services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
ONE Tennessee has worked to improve the system of care for individuals with opioid use disorder, promoting the use of certified peer recovery specialists (CPRS) with lived experience to help individuals access evidence-based services in a manner that is timely, convenient, and responsive to the individual’s needs and preferences.
Beginning in 2021, ONE Tennessee has partnered with the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency and received funding support from the Care Foundation of America and the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council to expand the capacity of its Upper Cumberland Recovery CONNECT services, through which peer support specialists connect individuals with the treatment and recovery services that are appropriate for their clinical needs, but also with transportation, housing, job training and placement, food and clothing assistance, and other family support services which may be necessary for them to achieve stability and long-term recovery.
Other communities have expressed interest in building effective networks of local and regional service providers, with assistance from ONE Tennessee and other partners.
Promote the adoption of evidence-based practices by educating clinicians and communities
ONE Tennessee has partnered with health professional associations and colleges of health science to educate health professionals about evidence-based practices for screening for substance use disorder, prescribing of opioid medications and alternatives for pain management, prescribing of buprenorphine for withdrawal management, and harm reduction strategies such as safe storage and disposal of medications and co-prescribing of naloxone for overdose reversal.
In collaboration with the Tennessee Hospital Association, ONE Tennessee shares information about opioid prescribing in emergency departments, including the successful practices implemented by the Baptist Memorial Health System and approximately 80 other emergency departments in Tennessee.
ONE Tennessee has helped to develop content for continuing medical education on opioid prescribing guidelines for QuizTime, a user-friendly application administered by Vanderbilt University’s Center for Advanced Mobile Healthcare Learning. Since the module became available in 2019, nearly 5,000 clinicians have successfully completed this training to meet licensure requirements.
Using the evidence-based techniques shared by the National Resource Center for Academic Detailing, ONE Tennessee has recruited and trained more than 60 clinicians (physicians, nurses, pharmacists and health educators) to serve as Academic Detailers in their local communities. Academic Detailers meet with their clinical colleagues in one-to-one and group sessions, identifying barriers for clinicians and their patients, then sharing information about evidence-based practices and resources to meet the needs identified. Since 2019, Academic Detailers have engaged more than 350 clinicians across the state, distributing informational resources to reduce stigma, increase awareness and adoption of recommended clinical guidelines, and tools for screening, treating and referring individuals for the services they may need.
“Ending the opioid epidemic is a complex and difficult task that has been made harder by the pandemic of COVID-19. I am convinced that the vast majority of prescribers want to deliver safe and effective pain management, and I'm excited to see real change that benefits patients and clinicians.”
Dr. David Reagan
Past President, ONE Tennessee board of directors
“Opioid Use Disorder is a chronic medical disease with behavioral manifestations that are often harmful and frequently result in heartbreak and death. Our current understanding of addiction and neuroscience is imperfect, but has changed significantly in the time since many clinicians were formally educated. By delivering up-to-date evidence-based information, OneTennessee will prevent addiction and save lives.”
Dr. Sharon Moore
East TN Regional Coordinator & Trainer for Academic Detailing.
