The opioid that's saving lives in Nashville

This past spring, Durham, North Carolina, hosted a sprawling roots music festival called Biscuits and Banjos. For the thousands of attendees, it had some similarities to a lot of folk music events around the country. But one major thing set it apart: Nearly every featured performer was Black.The event is just one part of a Black folk music revival sweeping the country that's rescuing lost traditions and challenging stereotypes that for generations have influenced things like who gets to play the banjo in America.This episode is part of a collaboration between WUNC North Carolina Public Radio and WPLN Nashville Public Radio.Featuring: Jewly Hight, senior music writer at Nashville Public Radio - WPLN Rhiannon Giddens, musician and member of Carolina Chocolate Drops Dom Flemons, musician and member of Carolina Chocolate Drops Brandi Waller-Pace, musician and scholar Kaia Kater, musician and member of New Dangerfield

We’ve given you a lot to think about this week as we've examined harm reduction, medication assisted treatment and substance use disorder recovery and loss.Today, it's your turn to talk. Our guests this week have talked about clean syringe exchange, using drugs to get off drugs and the shame and stigma surrounding substance use disorder. Our Roundabout panel is here to listen to your stories and answer your questions. What’s helped the people you know who face addiction? How did you find your way to sobriety? And what concerns you about the legal and not-so-legal methods used? Join us on air by calling 615-760-2000.Guests Megan Barry, Author, It’s What You Do Next; Advocate to reduce shame and stigma surrounding substance use disorder Brittany Miller, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Dr. Josh Wienczkowski, Oversees patient care and telemedicine division for for Cedar Recovery Tennessee's offices  Listen From street corners to campsites, the work of Miriam Field, harm reductionist, This is Nashville, September 8, 2025 Sanctioned harm reduction, This is Nashville, September 9. 2025 The opioid that’s saving lives in Nashville, This is Nashville, September 10. 2025

While doctors are prescribing fewer and fewer opioids, there’s one that’s not going away – buprenorphine, often known by its brand name of Suboxone. Compared to other narcotics, it's harder to abuse. It’s far less dangerous than the synthetic street drugs. And it reduces the risk of overdosing. But it’s still an opioid that is very hard to get off of. The number of Tennesseans prescribed these opioids as addiction treatment jumped by 40% in just five years. As we look this week at all sides of a philosophy known as “harm reduction,” today we focus on access to the opioids meant to get us out of the opioid crisis.GuestsLeslie Cole, MD, addiction physician, Springfield, Tenn.Josh Draper, program manager, Sumner Prevention CoalitionTracy Frame, PharmD, professor of pharmacy practice and director of the Flourish Mobile Clinic, Belmont UniversityChap Cuthbert, community response peer support, Mental Health Cooperative

On today's episode of "This Is Nashville," we dive into the work of sanctioned harm reduction.Needle exchanges, distributing drug overdose reversal medication and fentanyl test strips — these tactics to limit the damage of the opioid crisis were once broadly illegal in Tennessee, and now they’re being used by certain groups to, essentially, help people use drugs more safely without necessarily trying to get them to stop. It’s all about keeping someone alive, even if it does little to treat the drug addiction that is leading to so many deaths.We’re exploring ways through the opioid crisis this week by focusing on a philosophy known as “harm reduction.” Monday was all about underground tactics to avoid regulation. Today we’re going above ground with physicians, social workers, and locals with lived experience to understand what’s allowed under Tennessee law. And we’ll hear that even among addiction experts, there are still questions about what’s the best path forward.You can also see us live at noon streaming on YouTube.Today's episode was produced by Josh Deepan. Guests Lyle Cooper, Meharry Medical College Associate Professor, Director of Meharry Harm Reduction Center  Peter Hossler, Rhodes College Associate Professor of Urban Studies Mary Owens, retired HIV/AIDS advocate Dr. Reid Finlayson, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Professor of Clinical Psychiatry

When it comes to drug addiction, trying to help someone quit can feel like a lost cause. But there are still ways to keep people as healthy as possible. They’re just a little bit controversial. It’s a philosophy known as "harm reduction."And some of the work isn’t just controversial – it can be illegal in Tennessee. A few harm reductionists are willing to take legal risks because they see the work saving lives.Today launches a week of This Is Nashville episodes about finding our way in the ongoing opioid crisis. And we start with the complicated tale of an underground harm reductionist and her work trying to overcome the stigma of drug use in an effort to keep people alive. She is committed to the idea that saving the lives of people in active drug addiction is more important than trying to get them to stop using. Through her story, we also learn that stigma can do as much damage as drug use itself.Related:• WPLN: A Betor Way, Memphis: Peers find a better way to save lives• Bury This Heirloom, Ziona Riley• WPLN: To combat rising overdoses, a prevention specialist must first overcome the stigma of addiction

It’s Thursday and time for another episode of The Roundabout.The Roundabout is your news of the week, analyzed by our panelists from points of view that span left, right and center. Joining us today are attorney John Spragens, former reporter and political operative who also previously handled communications for Congressman Jim Cooper; Toby Compton, who worked for Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and also in the administrations of governors Bill Haslam and Bill Lee; And Sarah Grace Taylor, reporter with the Nashville Banner. And The Roundabout also welcomes your voice on the big stories of the week! What story is making the rounds in your circle? Give us a call at 615-760-2000 to weigh in — or join us live streaming on YouTube at noon and pop your question into chat.This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.Guests: John Spragens, attorney, former reporter, political operative and communications director for Congressman Jim Cooper Toby Compton, formerly in the administration of Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and governors Bill Haslam and Bill Lee Sarah Grace Taylor, reporter with the Nashville Banner

Chicken and Waffles, shrimp and grits, powdered sugar on top of fresh French toast—not to mention bottomless mimosas.For those not addicted to social media, that spells brunch. According to listwithclever.com, New Orleans, Indianapolis and San Francisco are ranked among the top cities in the country for that late-morning, breakfast/lunch hybrid. Although Nashville is known for music, food, and satiating that grumbling stomach after church, it seemingly lags behind other brunch-centric cities. On today’s show, we take a look at the brunch scene in Nashville. We’ll speak with chefs and restaurant owners, as well as experts in the field of catering and fashion to better understand the culture and history of brunch and its local impact.This episode was produced by Anthony White and Josh Deepan.Guests John Smith, SOUL Restaurant Owner Jerod Wilcher, ButterFLY Garden Restaurant Owner Jovia King, Event Planner, Thirty Plus Events  Milton White, Stylist, The Fashion Office 

We have an episode dedicated to a tiny fraction of the population that fascinates us all: the identical twins in our midst. Life is just different for those who share all of their genetics — and we’re looking to understand them more.We’ll talk to Middle Tennessee twins who work together keeping our community safe, teenage twins growing up and one twin who you hear every day on our show. We’ll also meet the parent and a spouse of identical twins to learn about how they love the twins closest to them. It’s going to be a double fun hour. Join us!This episode was produced by Liv Lombardi and Katherine Ruppelt.Guests: Sergeant Kyle Neal, identical twin Sergeant Matt Neal, identical twin Kenzie, identical twin Kyndall, identical twin Courtney Oertel, wife of an identical twin Jada Mathews, mother of identical twins

It’s Thursday and time for another episode of The Roundabout.The Roundabout is your news of the week, analyzed by our panelists from points of view that span left, right and center. Joining us today are former congressional candidate Kiran Sreepada, Vanderbilt young Republican Noah Jenkins and the Tennessean’s Austin Hornbostel. We’re stepping back from the news of the week and looking for meaning in it all. Gov. Lee resisting guard troops policing Memphis, the latest on the airport tunnel, and the Cracker Barrel kerfuffle. Plus headlines that flew under the radar.And The Roundabout also welcomes your voice on the big stories of the week! hat story is making the rounds in your circle? Give us a call at 615-760-2000 to weigh in — or join us live streaming on YouTube at noon and pop your question into chat!This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.Guests: Kiran Sreepada, former congressional candidate & former Director Programs at the States Project. Noah Jenkins, Vanderbilt senior and President Emeritus, Vanderbilt Young Republicans Austin Hornbostel, Tennessean Metro Reporter

There’s a caregiving crisis in America, and taking care of our parents is just one part of the struggle.It’s caring for adults with a disability. It’s grandparents raising kids again, or parents as primary caregivers for a medically complex child. Then there are friends caring for friends like they’re family. Today is dedicated to highlighting resources to help caregivers of all kinds – both paid and unpaid. And, we're taking your calls. Call 615-760-2000 to ask the experts – or join us live streaming on YouTube at noon and pop your question into chat!Plus, we hear about actor Bradley Cooper’s new PBS documentary about caregiving in America, which probably hits home because most of us will spend part of our life playing the role he played for his father. As first lady Rosalynn Carter said, "There are only four kinds of people in the world – those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.”This episode was produced by LaTonya Turner and Mary Mancini.Guests Chris Durrance, director and senior producer of PBS documentary, Caregiving LaTonya Turner, editor and afternoon host, WPLN News Sandy Ewing, caregiver, medically complex child Aimee Luchterhand, caregiver, child with special needs Tina Lemon, caregiver, grandparent raising grandchildren Dr. Feylyn Lewis, Asst. Dean Student Affairs, VU School of Nursing; National Alliance for Caregiving researcher Dr. Megan Schwalm, President & CEO, Tennessee Caregiver Coalition