Does Tennessee have a 911 Good Samaritan law?

Yes. Tennessee Code Annotated section 63-1-156 gives immunity from arrest, charge, or prosecution to a person who, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug overdose. The person experiencing the overdose is also protected on a first overdose. Providing first aid can count as a mitigating factor in criminal proceedings.

Can Tennessee pharmacists dispense naloxone without a prescription?

Yes. Under Tennessee Code Annotated section 63-1-157, the chief medical officer of the Department of Health can enter a statewide collaborative pharmacy practice agreement with pharmacists. A pharmacist who completes an approved training program can dispense an opioid antagonist without a prescription to someone at risk of an overdose or to a person who can help them.

Can someone be committed to treatment in Tennessee?

Tennessee's involuntary commitment statutes, at Title 33, Chapter 6 of the Tennessee Code, apply when a person has a mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, poses a substantial likelihood of serious harm, needs care or treatment, and less restrictive alternatives are unsuitable. The criteria appear in sections 33-6-403 for emergency admission and 33-6-502 for judicial commitment.

Is it dangerous to stop drinking or using benzodiazepines suddenly?

Yes. Stopping heavy alcohol use or long-term benzodiazepine use abruptly can cause withdrawal that is dangerous or life-threatening. Medical supervision is recommended. Call 911 if someone is unresponsive or struggling to breathe.

Addiction Treatment Laws in Tennessee

Tennessee's laws offer two protections around an overdose and a narrow path to court-ordered care. Section 63-1-156 of the Tennessee Code gives limited immunity to people who call for help during an overdose, and section 63-1-157 lets pharmacists dispense naloxone without a prescription under a statewide agreement. Involuntary commitment is available only when a person meets a legal standard tied to serious harm.

Tennessee's age-adjusted drug overdose death rate was 35.2 per 100,000 people in 2024, with 2,499 deaths, according to the CDC. Those numbers describe a population, not a person. Substance use disorder is treatable, and help is available in every region of the state.

911 immunity for drug overdoses

Tennessee Code Annotated section 63-1-156 provides immunity from being arrested, charged, or prosecuted for a person who, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug overdose. The immunity also covers the person experiencing the overdose on a first overdose. Providing first aid or other medical assistance can be used as a mitigating factor in a criminal proceeding. The protection is tied to the drug-related offense; it is not a blanket shield from every charge.

If someone is unresponsive or breathing slowly, call 911. The point of the law is to keep fear from delaying a call.

Naloxone access

Under Tennessee Code Annotated section 63-1-157, the chief medical officer of the Department of Health can enter a statewide collaborative pharmacy practice agreement with licensed pharmacists. A pharmacist who has completed an approved opioid antagonist training program within the prior two years can dispense naloxone or another opioid antagonist, without a prescription, to a person at risk of an overdose or to a family member, friend, or other person in a position to help. Pharmacists acting in good faith and with reasonable care are immune from related disciplinary action. TennCare also covers naloxone.

When commitment to treatment is possible

Tennessee's involuntary commitment law sits in Title 33, Chapter 6 of the Tennessee Code. Emergency admission under section 33-6-403 is available only if a person has a mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, poses an imminent substantial likelihood of serious harm because of it, needs care, training, or treatment, and no less drastic alternative is suitable. Nonemergency judicial commitment under section 33-6-502 uses a similar standard with a requirement of substantial likelihood of serious harm.

Tennessee does not have a statute that allows commitment for substance use alone. Substance use may be part of the picture when a person also meets the mental health criteria. A certificate of need from a qualified professional supports the process, and the person has a right to a hearing. Because the standard is legal and clinical, families usually work with a crisis professional, a hospital, or the local community mental health center.

Does TennCare cover addiction treatment?

TennCare covers withdrawal management and substance use treatment at the inpatient, residential, and outpatient levels for children, adolescents, and adults who need it, through its managed care plans. Tennessee has not adopted the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion, so eligibility for adults is narrower than in expansion states. If you are uninsured and not eligible for TennCare, the state's behavioral health safety net and community mental health centers are options.

Prescription monitoring

Tennessee's Controlled Substance Monitoring Database (CSMD), administered by the Department of Health, tracks the dispensing of Schedule II through V controlled substances. It was created under the Controlled Substance Monitoring Act of 2002 and expanded by the Prescription Safety Act of 2012.

Finding help in Tennessee

Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 1-800-889-9789. It is a free, confidential 24/7 referral line funded by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS).
Call or text 988 for a mental health or substance use crisis.
Search FindTreatment.gov by city, ZIP code, or service type.

If you would like to talk through options, call or text (800) 653-9376 or use the form below.

Safety comes first

Do not stop heavy drinking or benzodiazepine use suddenly. Withdrawal can be dangerous and may require medical supervision. If someone is unresponsive, has trouble breathing, or appears to be overdosing, call 911 right away. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.