Tennessee Dangerous Drugs Task Force

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Tomorrow is . Many cities and states are making naloxone and test strips available to prevent deadly fentanyl poisoning. Be prepared, carry naloxone, and know the signs of an overdose.

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Tomorrow is ! Did you know fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death?

was a huge success! Thanks to everyone that showed up... we can't wait to do it again next year!

! Thanks Deputy Baldwin and the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office for the support.

Supporting National Drug Endangered Children Awareness Day

Deputy Ben Baldwin does “real talk” about illegal drugs and their impact when he speaks to small groups of middle and high school students.

“I’ve talked to kids about having family members with a drug dependency,” Baldwin said. “It’s a disease and illness. They are not bad people. They need treatment to push them in that direction to get help.”

Baldwin, a deputy with the Sheriff’s Office’s Strategies and Tactics for Opioid Prevention Unit, discusses the dangers of opioid addiction and the options for rehabilitation when he speaks to students. He coordinates with the Prevention Coalition for Success, whose staff guides people to enter rehabilitation.

Sgt. J.D. Davis, who supervises the STOP Unit, said education is one aspect of their job to protect drug endangered children. He hopes to expand the education to help younger children and to speak in high school criminal justice classes next year.

The STOP Unit’s interaction with students is one way the Sheriff’s Office regularly works to protect drug endangered children.

The Sheriff’s Office observes National Drug Endangered Children Awareness Day today by the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. The alliance helps make a difference in the lives of children living in dangerous drug environments.

This is a day for individuals, agencies, disciplines, communities and states to come together with a common vision to help provide awareness around the issues of what drug endangered children go through and what can be done to identify, protect, and help these children.
The Sheriff’s Office helps in other ways.

Cpl. Tom Bunch said disposing of unused, expired medications and over-the-counter drugs will keep children away from using drugs found in a home. These medications will be collected by the Sheriff’s Office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 30 at the Sheriff’s Office at 940 New Salem Highway.

People who can’t make it to the event Saturday may dispose of the medications anytime in a bin at the entrance of the Sheriff’s Office.

Narcotics Lt. Chuck Barnes said the narcotics detectives are committed to taking drugs off the street through investigations and bringing drug dealers to trial.

“We try to keep drugs out of the hands of children,” Barnes said.

Photo: Deputy Ben Baldwin of the Sheriff’s Office’s Strategies and Tactics for Opioid Prevention Unit displays signs to make people aware of the National Drug Endangered Children Awareness Day today by the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children.

HOW COOL!

In observance of National Drug Endangered Children Awareness Day, The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel at The Island in Pigeon Forge is participating in a lighting event with:

State Capitol Building – Nashville, TN
Korean War Memorial Bridge – Nashville, TN
Eiffel Tower – Paris, TN
Courthouse – Sevier County, TN
Gatlinburg SkyBridge – Gatlinburg, TN
TN Aquarium – Chattanooga, TN

What an amazing show of support! Thank you!

Thanks for supporting !

This week the Chamber joined Lawrence County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition in their Positivity Project that is focused around National Drug Endangered Children's Awareness Day ♥️