CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – 117 people died of a drug overdose in Montgomery County in 2021. Of those, 98 had fentanyl in their system, according to the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

“That means despite whether or not you’re seeing it every day, it’s still happening,” said Chelsey Wright, regional overdose prevention specialist covering several counties in Middle Tennessee.

“Right now, Tennessee as well the rest of the country, is in a fentanyl crisis mode,” Wright said. “There are fentanyl poisoning cases all over. One of the only things you can do to help stand against those is to use something like Narcan if someone is overdosing.

“Naloxone is the opioid overdose reversal medication,” Wright told Clarksville Now. “The form that I distribute is just a really easy nasal spray. One shot is a dose.”

Narcan was the first popular name brand of the generic drug naloxone. It is now distributed under several names, but many still refer to it as Narcan. It is now commonly carried by paramedics and police responding to overdoses, as well as to individuals who use illicit substances, or to their friends and family.

About the training

Save a Life is part of the Cheatham County Community Enhancement Coalition and is funded by a grant from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Its mission is to reduce the stigma that surrounds addiction. “By doing so, that helps people better get into treatment and feel safer asking for help,” Wright said.

They also provide free naloxone and naloxone training to the community. Training consists of learning to identify the symptoms of an opioid overdose, taking the proper steps such as alerting 911 first, and learning how to administer naloxone and handle the situation appropriately until emergency services arrive.

After the training, individuals receive a certificate of completion from the state Department of Health. This training and certification “grants a ‘Good Samaritan’ civil immunity for administering the medicine to someone they reasonably believe is overdosing on an opioid,” according to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

To get involved or get help

Visit www.TNSaveALife.org for more information or to schedule a training. You can reach Wright directly for help navigating local resources at cwright@cheathamcountycoalition.org or 615-636-7840.

Additional resources for addiction or mental health in the Clarksville area include:

  • Naloxone Training Information (tn.gov)
  • TN Redline: 800-889-9789. Assists with finding substance use treatment and mental health treatment in Tennessee. They are available 24/7/365 days of the year.
  • TN Lifeline Peer Project: These peers help increase access to substance abuse recovery programs such as AA and NA meetings. The Montgomery County Regional Lifeliner is Lydia Price. She can be reached at 615-603-9092 or lprice@pc4s.org.
  • Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor.
  • 988. Suicide Prevention Lifeline, available to call, text, or chat 24/7/365 days of the year.