State Rep. Bill Dunn will carry Gov. Bill Haslam’s signature legislation to combat the opioid crisis in Tennessee. Dunn is the primary sponsor of House Bill 1832, a part of Haslam’s Tennessee Together proposal to combat opioid overuse by prevention, treatment and law enforcement.
In 2016, there were over 1,600 opioid-related overdose deaths, one of the highest in the nation, according to a press statement from Nashville, and statistics show the numbers are increasing. Each day in Tennessee, at least three people die from opioid-related overdoses – more than the daily number of traffic fatalities.
House Bill 1832 will update the state’s controlled substance schedules in order to better track, monitor and penalize the use and unlawful distribution of dangerous and addictive drugs – including fentanyl. The bill also includes sentence reduction credits for prisoners who successfully complete intensive substance use disorder treatment programs while incarcerated.
Dunn said he’s honored the governor asked him to carry this “important and much-needed legislation.”
He represents District 16, covering parts of Fountain City and Powell. Over the last five years, Dunn has worked closely with the Metro Drug Coalition (MDC) in identifying substance abuse solutions and providing direction to the community. The MDC was established 31 years ago by a joint resolution of the city of Knoxville and Knox County to unite policy makers and leaders to address drug problems.