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East Tennessee lawmakers hope to impact opioid crisis through legislation

Lawmakers say they're already working on plans to address the opioid epidemic.

Tennessee's legislature gets back to work next Tuesday, and lawmakers say they're already working on plans to address the opioid epidemic.

"I think big pharma is getting the message there's an issue and they're part of the problem as well,” state Rep. Rick Staples said.

In 2017, a record 294 people died of suspected drug overdoses in Knox County alone, according to figures from the Knox County District Attorney General's Office.

He believes a plan to limit prescriptions is a step in the right direction. Staples is also backing a bill aimed at helping families in kinship care - taking care of children who've lost parents to addiction.

"Everything increases with an extra mouth to feed. Gas bill, electric bill, food bill and that's just not enough money,” explained Staples.

Right now he says families are getting about $145 a month in support. Families in his district make an average of $24,000 a year - where that support doesn't go very far.

He wants to see that amount increase to $350.

"As we fight this opioid crisis we have got to make sure we are supporting the victims and a lot of the victims are children,” said Staples.

State Rep. Eddie Smith's plan is also aimed at young people.

"We had about 38,000 kids last year that went to the hospital at least one last year with some sort of opioid or heroin medical emergency,” said Smith, who heads the Knox County delegation.

He wants to see a pilot program support recovery high schools in West, Middle and East Tennessee where they can get young people help while putting them on a path to graduate from a high school, not a drug program.

Knox County Schools Superintendent Bob Thomas also has said he supports creation of a recovery high school.

Smith's second plan is to make it easier to get help. Right now, kids have to be arrested or land in DCS care for many families to get help.

"Finding a pathway so that we don't have to have them with a criminal record or even a juvenile record so we can get them help,” said Smith.

Knoxville area lawmakers Richard Briggs and Jason Zachary also plan to introduce legislation aimed at curtailing opioid abuse.

Briggs, a surgeon, wants to limit the quantity of medication that can be prescribed for pain following certain medical procedures, perhaps something like a five-day supply at a time.

“This whole thing is just an incredible, incredible mess," he said.

Briggs said he recognizes there are patients with chronic pain who must have medication. He said he thinks legislation can be passed that makes it harder for abusers to get drugs while also accounting for people with genuine, long-term pain.

Zachary said he met this week with Knoxville Police Department Chief David Rausch. He said he has asked Rausch, a leading voice seeking to stop abuse, how in the General Assembly he can act to stop the drug problem.

To Zachary, addressing opioid abuse appears to be the leading issue that will be addressed by Tennessee lawmakers this year.

Zachary said he plans to introduce a bill that would require district attorneys in the state to notify health authorities when someone picks up a drug conviction. That way, when they seek health care - and perhaps a prescription - the medical professional can evaluate whether they're just trying to get drugs or genuinely need medication.

“Doctors need to know if a person has been convicted of drug dealing,” Zachary said.

Lawmakers said helping young people is critical. Smith said the state of Tennessee spends $3 million a year on young people fighting addiction, compared to $54 million on adults.

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