Our interventionists help Tennessee families move a loved one from active drug use into treatment, with a plan built around safety from the first call.
A drug intervention is a structured meeting, prepared with a professional interventionist, in which the people closest to someone who is using ask them to accept treatment that day. We travel to families throughout Tennessee, from Chattanooga, Murfreesboro and Nashville to smaller towns, and planning starts right away, because with today's drug supply waiting carries real risk.
Court-ordered addiction treatment. In limited cases, under Tennessee's judicial commitment law (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 33-6-501 et seq.; § 33-1-101).
Overdose Good Samaritan law. Yes (Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-1-156).
Naloxone. TDMHSAS Regional Overdose Prevention Specialists distribute naloxone and offer overdose response training to interested community members (source).
State agency. Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS).
State treatment line. Tennessee REDLINE: Call or text 800-889-9789.
Emergency. Call 911 if a loved one is in immediate danger. Call or text 988 for an emotional crisis.
Tennessee recorded 2,499 drug overdose deaths in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 35.2 per 100,000, according to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (source). Before anything else, keep your loved one alive.
If your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911. If they are in emotional crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Tennessee has a Good Samaritan overdose law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-1-156) that offers some legal protection to people who call for help during an overdose. Its protections have conditions, but calling 911 is always the right move.
Naloxone (Narcan) reverses an opioid overdose, not stimulants. See our fentanyl family guide.
Tennessee's drug paraphernalia law excludes testing equipment used to check whether a substance contains a synthetic opioid, such as fentanyl test strips (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-402) (source).
Each one shapes the medical side of detox differently.
In limited cases. Tennessee's judicial commitment law sets out a court process that can order treatment when strict legal conditions are met. It is a backstop, not a shortcut: a planned intervention is usually the faster and more lasting route, and a Tennessee attorney can confirm how the law applies to your family.
The court route here is Tennessee's judicial commitment law (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 33-6-501 et seq.; § 33-1-101). Tennessee defines mental illness to include alcohol and drug dependence. A parent, spouse, guardian or responsible relative may file a complaint; commitment requires a substantial likelihood of serious harm and two certificates of need. Laws change, so confirm the current rules with a Tennessee attorney before you rely on them.
The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services lists support for families, including its Statewide Family Support Network, the Certified Family Support Specialist program and the TDMHSAS Helpline (source).
See the full steps, how fast someone leaves for treatment and our cost guide.
The state agency that oversees substance use treatment is Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS). For treatment searches, Tennessee offers Tennessee REDLINE: Call or text 800-889-9789.
The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services lists support for families, including its Statewide Family Support Network, the Certified Family Support Specialist program and the TDMHSAS Helpline.
Yes. Tennessee has a Good Samaritan overdose law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-1-156) that offers some legal protection to people who call for help. Its protections have conditions, but calling 911 is always the right move.
We begin planning right away by phone or video, and travel to families throughout Tennessee, including Chattanooga, Murfreesboro and Nashville. Call (850) 563-9776 to talk through realistic timing.
One confidential conversation with a professional interventionist. No pressure, no obligation. We'll help you find the right next step for your family.
