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If you need immediate assistance for yourself or a loved one,

call or text the TN Redline: 1-800-889-9789

Are you or a loved one having a mental health crisis?

Frontier Health's Crisis Hotline

877-928-9062

Have you had an overdose or fear that you might?

Or is someone you care about in that situation?

Overdose Response Team

423-408-8134

Are you thinking about suicide or worried about a love one who might be?

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

800-273-8255

Are you looking for assistance in finding recovery options?

Ballad PEERhelp Warmline

M - F Noon to 10 pm

877-733-7457

TN Faith-Based Lifeline Peer Project

423-384-6150

Find Local Addiction and Recovery Meetings

This guide can help you find:

- Substance use/misuse treatment resources and recovery meetings

- Assistance with locating food pantries

- Help paying a utility bill

- Someone to talk to about a child or adult that is in danger or being harmed or harming themselves

AveNew is a community drug education and prevention coalition in Kingsport, Tennessee striving to create a healthy and safe community free of substance misuse. Our goals include raising community awareness, increasing access to evidence-based prevention education for young people, reducing stigma surrounding substance use and recovery, and connecting those affected by addiction to available services and resources. Members of the AveNew coalition are from diverse sectors of the community - business, law enforcement, schools, local government, health, media, parents, youth, and the faith-based community.

Addressing the overdose and addiction epidemic continues to be an urgent issue facing our region.

Working together, we can effect positive change.

Mission

Educate our community about the impact of substance misuse;

Prevent people of all ages from misusing substances;

Connect people to community resources, and

Support and promote efforts to increase resiliency in our community.

Vision

AveNew’s vision is to make the Greater Kingsport area a safer, healthier and more resilient community by addressing substance misuse and guiding those impacted through education, prevention, and connection.

Everyone has a part to play as we work together to educate our community about the impact of substance misuse, promote evidence-based prevention programs and connect people to resources.

Contact us if you would like to:

Understand more about the science of addiction and resiliency building
Learn about current prevention efforts
Host a training or educational event for your workplace, school, church or organization
Sign-up to join a Youth Coalition or be a Youth Mentor
Join the First Tennessee Development District Second Chance Employment Network
Become a Tennessee Faith-Based Initiative Certified Recovery Congregation

Contact

423-378-3409 x 18

AveNew@uwaykpt.org

History

History

The United Way of Greater Kingsport (UWGK) has long been known as a catalyst for positive change, helping to create and build the resources necessary to improve the quality of life for those who live and work in our area. Several years ago, it became clear that northeast Tennessee was experiencing an epidemic of drug abuse, a problem that impacted every part of our community – families, healthcare providers, law enforcement, employers, schools, and more. UWGK formed a Drug Task force to study the issues related to substance misuse in the region. From there, a community coalition – AveNew – was formed. While AveNew is under oversight and management of its own Leadership and Steering Teams, we are thankful for UWGK’s continuing support in providing a part-time staff member to work with AveNew and for grant funding.

Community Partners

Through the collaborate efforts of our team members and program partners, we continue the work of making the Greater Kingsport area a safer, healthier, and more resilient community. Our Leadership and Steering Teams consist of regional experts, area stakeholders, and community members who volunteer their time and talents to set the overall vision and program direction. Our Program Partners are service providers and other non-profit organizations we have worked with to plan and support programs and events.