Peer Support Centers are places where people with mental illness and substance use disorders can learn about recovery, find peer support, and have fun—all for free. The friends you make there will become like family to you.

There are 45 Peer Support Centers in Tennessee. The staff members are people who have mental illness and/or substance use disorder and who have been trained to give peer support.

If you live in a county that a Peer Support Center serves, the peer staff can give you a free ride to the Center at least once a week. You do not need a referral and you do not need to receive services from the host agency in order to attend.

Host Agency: Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System

Peer Support Center: Enrichment House

Address: 538 East Main St Gallatin 37066

Phone Number: 615-452-2344

Hours of Operation: Tue – Fri 8 am – 5 pm

For more information and a full list of Tennessee Peer Support Centers visit the website linked above.

Middle Tennessee
Will Taylor
(615) 203-9066
wtaylor@pc4s.org

The TDMHSAS Faith-Based Community Coordinators are people with lived experience who connect with communities of faith to recruit, train, and certify through the Tennessee Certified Recovery Congregation program.  Each community coordinator is employed by their local Community Anti-Drug Coalition.  The department currently has four Faith-Based Community Coordinators, one for each grand division of the state and one dedicated to Shelby County.

Prescription drug take-back boxes provide a place where unused prescription drugs can be safely disposed.

These permanent boxes prevent prescription and over-the-counter medications from getting into the hands of children and into the waterways. They make sure they are disposed of in a safe, environmentally-friendly manner. Medication collection events and programs are part of a nationwide effort to reduce the amount of pharmaceutical products being flushed or poured down drains.

Women who are pregnant, or who have recently given birth and have a history of mental health illness and/or who use or abuse drugs, tobacco, and alcohol may qualify for in-home visits from a registered nurse. Visits average 60-90 minutes, up to 24 times per year until the child turns 2 years old.

Home Help for Mothers and Babies addresses the following areas:

• Healthcare assessments
• Education and positive parenting skills
• Strategies to prevent infant mortality, child abuse and neglect, and alcohol and drug misuse and abuse

The service is available in the following Tennessee counties: Davidson, Hamilton, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, and Williamson.

Click this link to learn more about Nurses for Newborns in Tennessee.

For additional information please contact:

Anthony Jackson, Jr.
Director of Prevention and Early Intervention
Division of Substance Abuse Services
Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Phone (615) 532-3914
Email: anthony.jackson@tn.gov

Regional Overdose Prevention Specialists (ROPS) are located throughout the state of Tennessee as a point of contact for training and education on opioid overdose and for overdose prevention through the distribution of naloxone.

ROPS focus on three primary groups with their work:

• First Responders
• Individuals at high risk of overdose, their families, and friends
• Agencies and organizations that provide treatment and recovery services or community resources

In addition to the priority populations, the ROPS will train all interested community members.

Regional contact information is routinely updated. Visit the website linked above to find a map with your region’s contact information. 

The mission of the Sumner Prevention Coalition is to unite people with vision, commitment, and resources to provide solutions to eliminate substance abuse and make a difference for youth, families, and individuals in Sumner County. They envision a healthy, safe, and thriving community free from substance abuse.

Please visit the website and Facebook page linked above to learn more.

Learn More About Substance Use Prevention Coalition!

In counties and communities across Tennessee, substance use prevention coalitions are working to reduce dependence on harmful and potentially lethal substances such as prescription drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. These local efforts, funded by the state of Tennessee since 2008, help get the word out about the dangers and consequences of substance use. Coalitions are also key partners in many of the department’s special initiatives focusing on opioid overdose prevention and reversal, connection to treatment and recovery resources, and faith-based outreach.

Eight Ways Coalitions Benefit Tennessee Communities:

• Increase the number of community permanent prescription drug take-back boxes per community
• Conduct community-based drug take-back events
• Work to standardize penalties for alcohol and drug offenders
• Education for individuals handling alcoholic beverage transactions
• Monitor current smoke-free ordinances to encourage enforcement
• Post anti-drug, anti-alcohol, and anti-smoking billboards in the community
• Offer a reward for information on illegal drug manufacturing
• Engage youth to participate in drug, alcohol, and tobacco-free efforts

Visit Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to find prevention coalitions located across the state and learn how you can get involved!