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Rutherford County HIA data show sharp drops in suspected overdoses and fatalities since 2023
Summary
High-Impact-Area presenters told the board that Rutherford County's nonfatal suspected overdoses fell 41.1% from 2023 to 2024, with a further decline into 2025, and that suspected fatal overdoses dropped from 94 in 2023 to 59 in 2025; toxicology continues to show fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine as the most-detected substances.
Grace Fente of the High Impact Area (HIA) team told the Rutherford County board that county emergency-department surveillance and medical-examiner data show notable declines in both suspected nonfatal and fatal overdoses.
Fente said ESSENCE emergency-department data indicate nonfatal suspected overdoses dropped 41.1% from 2023 to 2024 and fell another 7.5% from 2024 to 2025. Using ME examiner records, the presenters reported suspected fatal overdoses as 94 in 2023, 76 in 2024 and 59 in 2025, a 22.4% decline from 2024 to 2025.
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