SMART

 

The SMART Initiative: empowering Tennessee to overcome the overdose crisis.

Our Service Areas

Technical Assistance

Get technical assistance, including RFP templates, county-specific information and more.

Policy Briefs

Read the latest updates on current opioid use policies.

Podcasts

Listen to the SMART Policy Podcast.

Data Dashboards

See data visualizations on opioid use in Tennessee.

Policy Network

Meet the SMART Policy Network.

Email Newsletter

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(Podcast) Getting Naloxone on College Campuses & Other Interventions

December 1, 2024

Click here to listen on Spotify The data is clear: 18-25 is a critical time for substance use and mental...

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(Podcast) Saving Lives in Jail: Naloxone Vending Machines, MAT, and Mental Health at Davidson County

November 1, 2024

Click here to listen on Spotify As we’ve discussed many times on this show, the criminal justice system has long...

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(Podcast) If Opioid Prescriptions Are Down, Why Are Overdose Deaths Still So High?

October 1, 2024

Click here to listen on Spotify There’s no question that over-prescribing of opioids kick-started the opioid crisis - the data...

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The Rise of Xylazine Shows Why Local Data Must Inform Policy and Spending Decisions

September 26, 2024

Local governments have been given direct control over a substantial amount of opioid settlement funding. While state-level data sources are...

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UT SMART and Partners Awarded Four State and Federal Grants

September 26, 2024

The UT Grand Challenges grants are intended to foster partnerships that develop innovative solutions to some of the state’s most...

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Opioid Abatement Strategy County Highlights: Q3 2024

September 26, 2024

East - Roane County Roane County has been awarded the Excellence in the Application of the Opioid Litigation Principles. These...

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Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council Statewide Community Grants: Cycle 2 Announcement

September 26, 2024

The Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council (OAC) has announced the next round of statewide community grants. The due date for applications...

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New Research: Do People Actually Use Fentanyl Test Strips to Avoid Overdose?

September 17, 2024

Fentanyl testing strips (FTS) were decriminalized in Tennessee in 2022, and since then have become a widely used tool for...

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The Substance Misuse and Addiction Resource for Tennessee (SMART) Initiative guides community leaders in implementing evidence-based, cost-effective strategies that mitigate damage from substance use disorder and the opioid epidemic.

Originating in 2020 as the SMART Policy Network, the SMART Initiative grew in scope as it was incorporated into the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service in early 2022. In addition to examining and communicating data and policies related to substance use disorder, the SMART Initiative seeks to empower communities and local governments to combat the overdose epidemic.

Our mission is to empower Tennessee to overcome the overdose crisis.

Our vision is a healthy Tennessee where people impacted by substance use can live and thrive.

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