Increase reported in 2023 Chattanooga overdose deaths

CHATTTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Hamilton County Drug Recovery Court presented updated statistics on Wednesday showing the extent of the local drug crisis.

During a presentation, the court said in 2023, there were 162 overdose deaths in Chattanooga.

To put into perspective, if Chattanooga were a state, it would have the second highest per capita death rate per 100,000 residents in the country, behind West Virginia.

Tennessee currently holds that second spot.

The drug recovery court works with those who were charged with crimes and have a substance use disorder in Hamilton County.

Despite the overall trend, the court said it is encouraged with a 90% graduation rate of those who participate in their program.

“We increased our census dramatically in 2023. We were at one point up to 90 participants in the program. When I first started, we had a little under 30, so that’s a huge increase. We have had five drug free babies,” Hamilton County Drug Recovery Court Director Shannon Morgan said.

Hamilton County Judges Alex McVeagh and Amanda Dunn currently preside over this program on a weekly basis in their courtrooms.