Fatal drug overdoses are falling in Tennessee and nationwide after years of skyrocketing deaths.

Why it matters: The opioid crisis, which dramatically drove up overdose deaths, hit Tennessee particularly hard. It pulled down the state's life expectancy, devastated families and sent officials scrambling for ways to help.

• Leaders say they are hopeful this fledgeling trend might signal a turning point.

By the numbers: Tennessee's rate of fatal drug overdoses fell 6.6% in the latest data, from 56 per 100,000 people in 2022 to 52.3 in 2023, the CDC says.

• The U.S. saw its rate drop 4%, from 32.6 per 100,000 people in 2022 to 31.3 in 2023.

State of play: Tennessee is pouring tens of millions of dollars from opioid lawsuit settlements into the fight to save lives.

• The state also passed a 2022 law that made it easier for residents and organizations to access naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
• The medicine is a lifesaving tool if it is used quickly.

The big picture: Overdose prevention specialists across the state have distributed more than 678,000 units of naloxone since 2017, according to the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

• The specialists have documented more than 82,000 lives saved.

Reality check: The downturn is a young trend, and even if it continues, the number of deaths remains troubling. Tennessee's overdose death rate still far outpaces the national figures.

• The state reports more than 3,800 people died from drug overdoses in 2023 alone.
• And the rate of overdose deaths is increasing in some states, like Alabama and Nevada.

What we're watching: New research happening in Nashville could upend the opioid crisis. A Vanderbilt University researcher is using artificial intelligence to develop a nonaddictive painkiller to serve as an alternative to opioids.

• His work is funded by a federal grant.

Get help: Addiction treatment services are available even if you can't pay. 

• Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789 or visit FindHelpNowTN.org for a free and confidential referral.

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In Nashville, overdose deaths began to tick down in the back half of 2023. They continued to fall in each quarter last year.

Fentanyl was detected in 70% of Nashville's suspected overdose deaths last year, compared to more than 79% of cases in 2023.

Former Gov. Bill Haslam and his wife Crissy are bankrolling a scholarship for medical students at Belmont University who face financial barriers.

Why it matters: The scholarship is designed to go to students who might have struggled to afford medical school otherwise.

State of play: The Bill and Crissy Haslam Foundation donated $1 million to establish the endowed scholarship.

What she's saying: "Education transforms lives and communities, and we know that Belmont's College of Medicine will serve as a gateway for students who want to give their lives to the field of medicine," Crissy Haslam said in a statement.

• "We are hopeful this scholarship will remove barriers for students who desire to make an impact through both their talents and training."

Flashback: Expanding college access for low-income Tennesseans was one of Bill Haslam's signature issues as governor. He created statewide scholarships that made community and technical colleges tuition free for most residents.

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Nine-year-old Marcia Trimble went missing 50 years ago today. The case remains one of the most shocking murders in Nashville's history. (Nashville Banner)

🌊 A wave of new initiatives by President Trump's administration — including funding cuts, increased immigration enforcement and the elimination of diversity programs — has strained Metro legal officials. (Tennessean)

💸 A state bill seeks to reroute property transfer tax revenue to counties for transportation and infrastructure projects. (Nashville Business Journal, subscription)

Road crews are fanning out across the state to fill potholes that formed during our recent snowstorm and surges of rain.

What's next: Drivers can report potholes on interstates and state routes by calling the Tennessee Department of Transportation Hotline at 833-TDOTFIX or by submitting an online maintenance request form.

• You can report potholes on local roads by calling 311 or visiting hubNashville.