MURFREESBORO, TN — After once being identified as a regional hotspot during the height of the opioid epidemic, Rutherford County is now showing signs of progress, reporting a significant decline in overdose deaths over the past four years. Officials say opioid use overall has declined locally, and overdose fatalities have dropped into the double digits, a notable shift from previous years.
Rutherford County Commissioner Craig Harris recently outlined the county’s aggressive strategy to address opioid addiction. The plan combines previously fought legal action against pharmaceutical companies with targeted investments in law enforcement, education, and recovery programs.
Harris said Rutherford County took the unusual step of joining a class-action lawsuit against pharmaceutical manufacturers independently of the state, which resulted in the county receiving $575,000 annually to address opioid-related issues…..