In one county in Tennessee, there has been a notable drop in the number of overdoses, with the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office attributing the decrease to community partnerships, including church initiatives.
As WBIR reports, the local sheriff’s office responded to 87 overdoses in 2022 and 86 in 2023. Overdoses in the small county of over 37,000 people followed state trends.
The year 2022 marked one of the worst for Tennesseans in terms of drug overdoses and deaths. According to state data, 3,826 Tennesseans died from a drug overdose in 2022, driven by an increase in opioids and fentanyl.
With community partnerships and support from local church congregations, Cocke County saw its numbers drop by more than half. In 2024, the number of overdoses fell to 28 and currently stands at 16 so far in 2025. It is important to note that the Sheriff’s Office figures do not include overdoses handled by other agencies, such as ambulance services and fire departments.
Church programmes, such as Celebrate Recovery, hosted by Newport First United Methodist Church, are helping people across the county heal from substance misuse.
The Reverend Marta Cogburn, who leads the ministry, says she combines education and faith to teach participants how addiction alters brain chemistry.
“We are intentional about teaching the addictive nature of substances and what that does to the brain, and so we have seen a shift in that,” Cogburn told WBIR.
Celebrate Recovery is based on a 12-step model for people struggling with “habits and hang-ups,” according to a statement on the programme's website. The programme also includes a group for young people.
“The Landing is the student ministry for Celebrate Recovery,” said Andy Petry, The Landing’s National Director. “The whole reason we exist is to provide a safe place for all students to come and process life, to find the healing, hope, and purpose of Jesus Christ, and to gain some valuable tools that will help them live healthier and freer lives.”