Drug-related deaths trending downward, vehicle deaths up in 2023: Knox Forensics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ( WATE ) — On Thursday, the Knox County Regional Forensic Center released its 2023 Drug-Related Death Report as well as its annual report. The RFC medical examiner and staff investigate causes and manners of deaths reported in both Knox and Anderson counties.

Among the highlights from the reports shared by the RFC included trending causes of death, with drug-related deaths trending downward, but there has been an increase in motor vehicle deaths . The trending types of narcotics found in those who died in drug-related deaths were also highlighted; with “polypharmacy,” or identifying more than one drug as responsible for a death, occurring in 71% of Knox County’s overdose deaths.

“The overdose epidemic continues to be a concern even with the drop in cases in Knox County, and across the nation,” Chris Thomas, Director of the Knox County Regional Forensic Center, said in a news release. “Fortunately, preliminary data for 2024 indicates drug-related deaths could continue trending downward.”

Synthetic drugs continue to have a prominent presence in overdose deaths. RFC officials say that the five most common drugs identified in drug-related deaths in 2023 were synthetic opioids, cocaine, alcohol/ethanol, xylazine, and methamphetamine. Meth was also identified as “the stimulant of choice and is used both on its own or in combination with opioids.” Also, a new drug called bromazolam was ranked among the top 10 drugs involved in death.

“There are more novel synthetic drugs on the market this year and they are deadlier than ever, alone or in combination with other drugs,” Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan stated in the release. “Many of the individuals we saw at the RFC had gone through different drug rehabilitation programs, sometimes more than once.”

The full reports can be found here .

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