Overdose awareness event coming to Knoxville Convention Center

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ( WATE ) — More than 200 suspected overdose deaths have been documented by the Knox County Regional Forensic Center so far this year and local leaders are working to continue to bring awareness to the issue. An upcoming event in Knoxville aims to do that and more while also providing resources related to drug overdoses.

The Metro Drug Coalition is hosting an International Overdose Awareness Day event from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Knoxville Convention Center on Aug. 30. The purpose of the event, MDC states on its website, is “to remember those we have lost to overdose and celebrate life.”

At the event, there will also be a resource fair, mayoral proclamations from both the city and county mayors, a memorial for those who have been lost to drug overdoses, and a community panel.

“All proceeds from this event benefit Metro Drug Coalition’s Recovery Housing Support Fund, which aids these individuals who are not financially capable of paying the initial fee to enter a safe place to further their recovery process,” MDC states on its site.

The Knox County RFC released a report in June focused on drug-related deaths in 2023 , stating that 71% of Knox County’s overdose deaths involved “polypharmacy,” or identifying more than one drug responsible for a death. 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.”

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