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

Sign up for our email newsletter to receive updates.

Webinar: Using Local Data to Inform Decisions

July 9, 2024

SMART's Program Coordinator, Jeremy Kourvelas, presented to the Tennessee Public Health Association (TPHA) on best practices relating to using local...

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County Opioid Settlement Highlights: April – June, 2024

July 8, 2024

Jefferson County Awarded for Their Spending Model Jefferson County was awarded Excellence in the Application of the Opioid Litigation Principles...

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Quarterly Opioid Settlement Office Hours – August 14th

July 8, 2024

Please join our regional substance use response consultants for free technical assistance and guidance on matters related to the opioid...

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(Podcast) Leveraging the Right Partnerships at the Local Level

July 1, 2024

Click here to listen on Spotify A cop, a guitar company, and a public health analyst walk into a bar…and...

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(New Policy Brief) Beyond Fentanyl Test Strips: The Need to Decriminalize All Drug Checking Equipment in Tennessee

June 10, 2024

KEY POINTS In 2022, Tennessee decriminalized fentanyl test strips (FTS) through Public Chapter 764. Thousands have since been distributed by...

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SMART in the news: “Madison County’s OAC discusses how to distribute settlement funds”

June 7, 2024

SMART's Courtney Collier, our West Tennessee Substance Use Response Consultant, attended the inaugural meeting of the Madison County opioid abatement...

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(Podcast) How Health Insurance (or Lack Thereof) Affects Treatment Options In Tennessee

June 1, 2024

Click here to listen on Spotify According to the most recent report from the Tennessee Department of Health, two-thirds of...

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“Has fentanyl peaked?” is the wrong question.

May 24, 2024

On May 21, the New York Times published an article titled “Has Fentanyl Peaked?” The premise is that the “opioid...

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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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