KNOXVILLE, TN — The Knox County Regional Forensic Center (RFC) today released its 2024 Annual report as well as the Drug-Related Death Report for Knox and Anderson counties.

The annual report provides an extensive overview of the RFC facilities, staff, and cases. The Drug-Related Death Report includes data on drug-related death cases the Center investigated in 2024 and compares it to previous years. 

“There are some hard realities represented in this report, and we need to pay attention,” said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “It isn’t all bad news, though, as we continue to see a downward trend in prescription opioid-related deaths in Regional Forensic Center jurisdictions, but we still have a long way to go.” 

As outlined in the report (found here: https://knoxcounty.org/rfc/reports.php), the data from the drug-related death report is drawn from only drug-related deaths in Knox and Anderson counties between 2020 and 2024 that were investigated by the medical examiner. Some key findings include: 

• Accidental deaths decreased by 17 percent, which is the largest decrease among causes of death mostly due to the decrease in fatal overdoses.

• There were 334 overdose deaths in 2024, which is a 36 percent drop from 2023 – with fentanyl and fentanyl analogues (synthetic opioids) most frequently identified in drug-related deaths in 2024.

• The presence of anxiety, anti-depressants, and anti-psychotic medication was found in 22 percent of Knox County drug deaths.

• The five most common drugs identified in drug-related deaths in 2023 were synthetic opioids, cocaine, diphenhydramine, xylazine, and methamphetamine, which is the stimulant of choice and is used both on its own or in combination with opioids.

• Polypharmacy, identifying more than one drug as responsible for death, occurred in 61 percent of Knox County’s overdose deaths.

• Drug deaths occurred most frequently for people ages 55 to 64 in Knox County, but the sharpest increase occurred to individuals ages 64 to 74.

“The overdose epidemic continues to be a concern even with the drop in cases in Knox County, and across the nation,” said Chris Thomas, Director of the Knox County Regional Forensic Center.

Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan noted: “Fortunately, preliminary data for 2025 indicates drug-related deaths could continue trending downward. The list of questions such as why opioid addiction and other drug misuse continues to plague our communities is as diverse and as complex as the victims and their families.”