Education

At Marion M.A.T.T.E.R.S. we believe that without proper education, substance use disorder will continue to grow in the shadows. Stigmatization, unfair stereotypes, the failure to see addiction as a disease, and the human tendency to sweep problems under the rug are all major obstacles to healing that Marion M.A.T.T.E.R.S. seeks to confront.

Marion M.A.T.T.E.R.S.’ educational efforts aim to spread understanding, promote more informed choices, and shine a light on the severity of the situation our community is facing.

Drug Use and Substance Use Disorder Statistics

Most of us have been impacted by substance use disorder in some way, yet many people do not realize just how prominent substance use disorder, opioid use, and overdoses are.

Overdose Death in Tennessee (2023)

81% of these overdose deaths involved opioids, predominately illicit fentanyl.

Overdose Deaths in Marion County (2023)

Fatal Drug Overdoses in Marion County (2019-2023)

A fatal drug overdose is most likely to occur at home and without a bystander present.

Hospital Visits Due to Non-fatal Drug Overdoses in Marion County 2019-2023

For every fatal drug overdose, there were approximately 7 nonfatal overdose occurrences that required medical attention. Thus, each time a person seeks care for a drug overdose, there is an opportunity to intervene with resources and services that could lead to recovery.

9.73 per 1,000

  • 97% 97%

9.73 per 1,000 Marion County residents filled at least one opioid for pain prescription in 2024. That’s 28,600 opioid prescriptions. This is above the state average of 6.20 per 1,000 residents.

Marion County residents filled an opioid prescription at a 57% higher rate than the state of TN.

431 per 1,000

  • 43% 43%

431 per 1,000 Marion County residents filled at least one benzodiazepine prescription in 2024. That’s 12,672 benzodiazepine prescriptions.

Marion M.A.T.T.E.R.S. seeks to educate the public so we can work together to reduce these numbers.

What is substance use disorder?

Substance use disorder is a complex medical condition that alters the brain, making it difficult to quit using drugs or alcohol, even for those who want to stop.

It is a chronic disease with intense cravings, physiological, and psychological components that can impair judgement, behavior control, and memory.

SUD often impairs the individual from being able to focus on their normal daily life outside of substance use and leads them to compulsively seek out drugs despite harmful consequences.

What causes substance use disorder?

Using drugs or alcohol for the first time is a choice, but nobody seeks out addiction. An individual’s biology, environment, and stage of life all impact their risk of developing substance use disorder. Drug use changes the brain in ways that make quitting difficult, and the speed and severity of these changes vary drastically from person to person.

The only surefire way to avoid substance use disorder is to abstain from drug use altogether, but it’s not that simple. Here are some of the factors that increase the risk of substance use disorder.

Addiction Risk Factors

The Prescription Pipeline

Many individuals who struggle with opioid addiction start out with legitimate prescriptions for pain that spiral into long-term use, abuse, and seeking cheaper/readily available alternatives such as heroin and fentanyl.

Mental Health Issues

SUD and mental health disorders/issues often go hand in hand. In fact roughly half of American adults with SUD also have a mental health disorder. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health disorders can lead to drug use as a way to escape or attempt to self-medicate.

Genetics

Inherited genes, specifically high dopamine levels, can predispose an individual to SUD. Research suggests that genetics account for roughly 50% of addiction risk.

Environmental Factors

An individual’s environment–home life, social circle, and family members–can put them at a greater risk. Abuse, unpleasant living circumstances, bullying, proximity and normalization of drug use, and/or the pressure to fit in can lead to first-time and prolonged use.

Eliminating the Stigma

Substance use disorder is a treatable disease, unfortunately the stigma towards addiction often gets in the way of effective treatment and recovery. Stigmatization often encourages people to hide their substance use, discourages them from seeking treatment for fear of judgement or feelings of worthlessness.

Public/Social Stigma

The negative attitudes, stereotypes, or beliefs about people with substance use disorder. Most of these stem from the misconception that addiction is a choice rather than a disease.

The public often unfairly labels people with substance use disorder as morally corrupt, lazy, dishonest, dangerous, or unworthy, as an excuse to isolate and ignore them. Any “bad” behavior is unfairly attributed to the person’s character, rather than their disease.

The important thing to remember is that the only way to reduce the negative impacts of substance use disorder is to help those struggling with it.

Internalized Stigma

People experiencing addiction often internalize the public stigma and begin believing negative stereotypes about themselves. This leads to feelings of shame, guilt, and hopelessness that discourage them from seeking treatment.

Marion M.A.T.T.E.R.S. hopes to eliminate the stigma, so people feel comfortable reaching out for help.