NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Metro Nashville Public Health Department reported 103 suspected overdose deaths from the beginning of the year to the week of March 4. That’s compared to 136 during the same time period in 2022. According to MPHD, the highly lethal drug fentanyl was detected in 73.5% of suspected overdose deaths.
Tennessee will share in a $275 million pot of grant money from the federal government to fight drug trafficking in the U.S. The money will be split among 33 “High Intensity Drug Trafficking (HIDT) areas” to help law enforcement disrupt trafficking operations, and in turn, hurt the drug cartels’ bottom line.
National Drug Control Policy Director, Dr. Rahul Gupta said law enforcement are working to prevent overdose deaths and poisonings from fentanyl.