KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- One drug has saved more than 400 lives in Knox County alone.
The drug is known as "naloxone" and leaders credit it for reversing hundreds of overdoses tied to opioids across the last year. As of Dec. 31, 296 people have died from an overdose this year in Knox County.
That number is a significant drop from 2023, when 485 people died from overdose. According to advocates, equipping people with naloxone is a contributing factor to lowering the number.
If naloxone is considered a lifesaver, then hundreds of people received a second chance at life in 2024.
"Each number of those is a person," said Jessica Stanley, regional overdose prevention specialist. "So that is initially 422 families."
Numbers from Tennessee show naloxone reversed 422 opioid overdoses from October of 2023 to September of 2024 in Knox County.
Stanley works to equip neighbors with this type of medication.
"We want to make sure they know what it is, how to use it, the signs and symptoms," Stanley said.
She said she targets three groups:
However, two areas in the county require more attention.
"East and south -- surrounding downtown is one of the key areas," Stanley said.
The state collects data on overdose reversal in three main ways. Those ways include state programs, law enforcement agencies and anonymous tip forms.
"What I get the most calls about is either from friends that we're using together or checking on a friend," Stanley said.
When someone administers naloxone to a John or Jane Doe, they'll report the usage on an "online reversal form" and have their naloxone replaced.
"Typically we see more common ages 15 to 44 -- we are seeing an increase in younger age ranges," said Stanley.
Knox County leaders said it projects overdoses to continue to drop with final numbers from 2024 expected to be available sometime in spring 2025.