Students and Young People
A Dose of Reality
The number of prescription opioid overdose deaths has decreased in Tennessee with the exception of the 18-24 year old age group, which showed a continued trend of increasing rates (5.0 per 100,000 TN residents in 2015 and 8.2 per 100,000 TN residents in 2017.)
In the 12-17 year old age group the number of Opioid (non-heroin) overdose hospital discharges (inpatient and outpatient) decreased from 87 in 2016 to 71 in 2017. [1]
Are you at risk?
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumas experienced in childhood that can cause toxic stress in the body. Tests, like this one, may help determine if someone you know has experienced an ACE.
This stress can shape educational outcomes, and influence a person’s future health and well-being. It can also make you more susceptible to risky behavior and substance abuse.
If you have experienced any of the following ACEs, you may be at risk for opioid abuse:
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Physical or emotional neglect
- Mental illness of a household member
- Alcoholism or illegal drug use of a household member
- Divorce or separation of a parent
- Domestic violence
- Incarceration of a household member
Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences in Tennessee.
Resources for students
- Get the facts on the dangers of prescription painkiller abuse.
- Find out where there’s a Drug Take Back location near you.
- Visit Safe Launch to learn more about Adverse Childhood Experiences.
Addiction affects people from all walks of life.
TN Faces of Opioids:
The Tennessee Department of Health is sharing the stories of Tennesseans affected by the opioid epidemic and what they are doing in every county and community of our state to bring it to an end.
[1] TDH Data includes only Tennessee residents discharged from non-federal, acute care hospitals
