By: Jeremy C. Kourvelas, UT SMART Program Coordinator
Born in St. Louis, raised in Memphis, and a Knoxville resident since 2010, Jeremy Kourvelas conducts federal and state drug policy analysis and research, hosts and produces the SMART Policy Podcast and manages public relations for the SMART Initiative. He also manages special projects such as R.E.M.A.D.E., as well as expanding our partnership with Gibson Gives and the Drug Intervention Institute to install overdose reversal first aid stations in music venues across the state.
Roane County has already received national recognition for its approach to the opioid settlements, having received the Excellence in the Application of the Opioid Litigation Principles award for its collaborative effort to managing these funds. Through a structured, transparent process, Roane County has prioritized investing in youth, community health, and recovery support systems as part of a multi-year strategic plan for abating the opioid crisis.
In April 2023, County Executive Wade Creswell established the Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee to ensure Roane’s settlement dollars were spent in ways that had input from as many sectors of the community as possible that have been impacted by this national emergency. This committee includes representatives from education, healthcare, criminal justice, addiction treatment, the Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition, and more, and together these stakeholders aim to address substance use disorder holistically and collaboratively, with a focus on saving lives, using evidence to guide decisions, investing in youth prevention, and ensuring a fair and open process.
Laying the Foundation: Identifying Needs and Priorities
In its initial phase, the committee worked with Sarah McCall, the UT SMART Initiative’s East Tennessee substance use response consultant, to help identify gaps in local resources. This process contributed to the ongoing development of a recovery resource asset map, a tool designed to geographically track available resources and guide funding priorities. This map, based on a model by East Tennessee State University, helped the council focus its efforts on three main areas: peer support, trauma-informed care and community resource navigation.
Mike Barber, coordinated school health director for Roane County, recalls the early days of the council’s work. “We’re blessed here in Roane County. Despite a big council, we’re able to get things done. We have organizations and community members all working on the same problem,” he explained.
“There were ideas—some big, some small—but we ended up prioritizing kids, then the community, then healthcare. Everyone just agreed, and now we’re excited to move forward with the plan.”
Phase One: Kids, Community, & Healthcare
One of the first positions funded through the settlement dollars was a trauma-informed specialist for Roane County Schools, filled by veteran educator Yvette Reeder. With over 30 years of experience in middle school counseling, Reeder brings a deep understanding of the challenges faced by youth affected by substance use disorder in their families. Her role focuses on fostering resilience and addressing behavioral issues through a supportive, trauma-informed lens.
“Sometimes we focus on a punitive approach instead of re-teaching appropriate behaviors,” Reeder explains. “When kids come to school, they might bring years of learned behavior from difficult environments. Behavior tells a story. We just have to dig deep and figure out what’s going on.”
One of the most common challenges Reeder encounters is what she describes as “learned helplessness” among students from trauma-affected homes. “They just don’t see a way they can succeed. We have to let them feel some success somewhere. My job is about giving them a voice, letting them be heard, and hopefully breaking the cycle to prevent them from ending up in the judicial system.”
In addition to the school-based role, Roane County has hired a community navigator, whose work will center on connecting individuals to recovery resources and services. This position plays a vital role in bridging gaps between agencies and ensuring individuals can access the support they need. Another similar position has been established in the local hospital to provide recovery support for patients who may be at high risk. Both of these positions reflect one of the most important aspects of addressing the addiction and overdose crisis in America: even if we have the resources we need, people are seldom connected to them in ways that facilitate continuity of care. In other words, we need more warm hand-offs: when one recovery resource (i.e., the emergency department) establishes follow up with another (i.e., outpatient treatment), before the patient is discharged from the first. Warm hand-offs take many forms, and Roane County’s plan seeks to establish them from three crucial points: schools, community services and the local healthcare system.
Barber emphasizes that these roles are only the first stages of a strategic plan. “We’re just getting started,” he says. “We’re looking at sustainable, long-term impacts. We’re trying to get to the root of the problem and focusing on what’s causing these issues.”
A Path Forward
Roane County’s approach offers a potential model for other Tennessee counties to consider in managing their opioid settlement funds. By forming a diverse, community-led advisory council, prioritizing evidence-based strategies, and investing in trauma-informed care, Roane demonstrates that effective spending is not just possible but can be transformative for the community. Barber advises other counties to consider a similar approach: “Set your differences aside and get to the root of the problem. Start there.”
As the Roane County Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee looks toward its next steps, its commitment to transparency, collaboration, and sustainable impact is an inspiring testament to what is possible when community leaders work together to address shared challenges.
These efforts serve as a reminder that these settlement funds represent more than just an opportunity to address the consequence of overprescribing opioids. They’re a chance to build a better future for Tennessee communities defined by resilience and hope.
