Metro Drug Coalition

A glimpse of our week at Metro Drug!

📹 Filming prevention messaging with Big Slate Media

🐕 YMDC celebrating the end of the year by volunteering at Young-Williams Animal Center and bowling

🎞️ Attending the Oxford House movie premiere

🟣 QPR instructor training with Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug & other Addiction Services (TAADAS) in Nashville, Tennessee

🚓 Speaking at the Knoxville Police Department - TN Cadet training about mental health and substance use recovery

🏫 Attending city council with Smoke-Free Knoxville

🤝 Gen RX with the Middlebrook club members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley

💊 Overdose awareness training with Safety & Criminal Court staff

⛰️ Overdose awareness training with Tennessee Valley Recovery

WE'RE HIRING
Metro Drug Coalition is hiring a Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist and a Care Coordinator.

Share this with someone who might be interested!

🔵 Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist 🔵
This position is designed for an individual in recovery with strong communication and facilitation skills who enjoys engaging audiences. They lead trainings, build partnerships, distribute naloxone, and represent the lived experience perspective in formal and community settings.
Apply here: https://www.indeed.com/job/regional-overdose-prevention-specialist-rops-c295ab2a7b939e57

🟢 Care Coordinator 🟢
The Care Coordinator will serve as a bridge between referral sources and the recovery support system by accepting referrals, conducting follow-up, identifying needs, making warm handoffs, documenting services, and helping build a stronger and more reliable system of connection for individuals and families.
https://www.indeed.com/job/care-coordinator-first-responders-tn-save-life-program-881fc65d299a4636

Thank you to our congressman Tim Burchett for visiting us at the Gateway and taking time to talk to members of our recovery community and see our work first hand.

Tennessee kratom ban takes effect July 1 Kratom will be banned from store shelves in Tennessee starting July 1 after lawmakers branded the substance “gas station heroin.”

When used as prescribed by a doctor, prescription stimulants can be an effective treatment for certain conditions. Common prescription stimulants include Adderall, Dexedrine, Concerta, and Ritalin

If you or someone you know struggles with stimulant misuse, there is hope and there is help! Call the Redline: 800.889.9789

Help and support are available! Here are some resources for mental health support in Tennessee

Join us for our June Events and Training!

June 11 - FLOURISH Training* metrodrug.org/event/flourish-empathy-and-communication-in-the-recovery-workforce/
June 16 - Adult Mental Health First Aid Training* metrodrug.org/event/adult-mental-health-first-aid-training/
June 23 - Community Coalition Meeting* metrodrug.org/event/june-2026-community-coalition-meeting/
June 29 - CPRS Training Series* metrodrug.org/event/cprs-training-series-the-science-behind-relapse-and-recovery-skills/

More details and events at metrodrug.org/events/list/
*Events require pre-registration

Mental health conditions can affect anyone. Compassion, understanding, and access to care can make a meaningful difference. There is treatment available: samhsa.gov/find-help/locators/esmi

Thanks to everyone who attended our community coalition meeting yesterday. We talked about how to increase community involvement in our coalition and learned about new substance policies in our community.

Join us for June's meeting on June 23rd from 11:30am-1:00pm at the Gateway.

Highlighting the work happening at MDC!

🟣 International Overdose Awareness Day planning meeting

🎺 Knoxville Symphony Orchestra performing at the Gateway

🍎 Maria, our Assistant Director for Youth Initiatives, presenting at the Partners in Prevention (PIP) conference

🚤 Our Faith Based Coordinator at a Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce event

🏫 At the West District Commander Forum with Captain Tracy Hunter and Councilman Honeycutt

🏠 Knoxville's Community Development Corporation Housing Fair sharing faith based initiatives and primary prevention services

💊 Overdose Prevention Training at Knox Area Rescue Ministries

💊 Overdose Prevention Training with Behavioral Health Group (BHG) in Bernard

🌳 Tabling at South College