Knoxville, TN – ReVIDA® Recovery recently released a blog looking into the 313 Initiative and what it entails. With flexible outpatient programming and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) offerings, they have helped many Appalachian residents reclaim their lives and find success in recovery.
“The 313 Initiative is named after Detroit, Michigan’s area code, and is a collective effort between law enforcement agencies to stop drug trafficking. It began in mid-December of 2022 as more officers were noticing connections between drug arrests in Tennessee and the amount of people with northern ties. The connection was also made to I-75, a 1,786.47-mile stretch of highway running from Northern Michigan to Miami, Florida. Many arrests between Michigan and Tennessee have taken place on I-75, and sparked the need for the initiative.
Since the beginning of the initiative, 75 pounds of methamphetamines, 43 pounds of fentanyl, and 5 pounds of cocaine have been seized in Knox County, Tennessee. The 313 Initiative goes beyond just seizing substances, and has also collected over half a million dollars in cash as well as 130 firearms. This has also led to 246 criminal arrests. The goal of the initiative is to not only remove substances from the streets, but also reduce the amount of violence and crime within communities,” the article states.
The 313 Initiative was started in December of 2022 and only included five district attorney generals and eight local law enforcement agencies. Today, there are over 20 currently active agencies. The main agencies involved are in Michigan and Tennessee, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the Detroit Police Department. These partnerships have been the key driver for the success of the initiative.
The 313 Initiative was developed to reduce the number of overdose deaths throughout the United States, specifically in Tennessee. The goal is to help the communities feel safer. Since its inception, overdose deaths in Knox County have dropped from 487 to 440. Fentanyl has been the top contributing factor in overdose deaths, and identifying the source of it was crucial to begin removing it from the area. The agencies behind the initiative encourage other states to join the cause as overdose deaths continue to rise in other areas of the country.
“Addiction often occurs before the person realizes it is happening. When substances such as opioids or methamphetamines are used, the brain reacts and chemicals begin to change. For example, when heroin or fentanyl are used, they bind to the opioid receptors within the brain. This causes feelings of euphoria and pleasure as these receptors control the central nervous system. Once the opioids are out of the system, the brain tries to restore balance. This can be uncomfortable, and cause the person to want to use the substance again. Over time, this leads to dependence,” the article continues.
The 313 Initiative helps to try to prevent addiction from happening by removing the number of substances that make it to the streets. They improve the odds that people will not encounter illicit substances by seizing and properly disposing of the substances.
ReVIDA® Recovery has been a proud partner in the Appalachian communities and has worked to provide education on substance use disorders to the public. With facilities throughout Virginia and Tennessee, they are providing an ease-to-access quality addiction treatment. They also offer same-day appointments for those who need help now.
To learn more about ReVIDA® Recovery, call 865-412-8090 or visit their website.
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For more information about ReVIDA Recovery® Knoxville, contact the company here:
ReVIDA Recovery® Knoxville
865-633-0353
generalinfo@revidarecovery.com
2001 Highland Ave
Knoxville, TN 37916
