Mission & History

Scott Dean, a prominent business man whose family was touched by substance abuse, founded Metropolitan Drug Commission in early 1986. The organization was co-sponsored by the city, county and Chamber of Commerce.

Community Leaders receive non-profit charter on June 20, 1986 as Metropolitan Drug Commission. They were charged to establish an alcohol and other drug umbrella organization for Knoxville/Knox County.

Jill Griffin, from the staff at Peninsula Treatment Center, was hired as the first executive director on October 15, 1989.

MDC receives five year grant from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Department of HHS to survey the community, determine needs and provide a community forum to develop a plan of action to reduce substance abuse problems in the community.

The CSAP grant was transferred to MDC so issues could be addressed from a broad community base, distinct from any one political entity.

From October 1990 – December 1995, grant funding provided MDC with a staff of up to nine people, including a full-time executive director.

Jill Griffin’s departs from MDC, and Robert Vint becomes the new Executive Director.

Catherine Thatcher Brunson became the third Executive Director for MDC.

MDC was one of 11 sites nationwide selected for the Demand Treatment grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

MDC receives DrugFree Communities support grant, which is a federal grant that establishes and strengthens communities and aims to reduce substance abuse among youth and adults. This allowed MDC to expand community outreach to provide resources at no cost.

In 2003, MDC sent key state officials to a training about Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs. As a direct result, Tennessee received over $400,000 in funding to develop a computerized prescription monitoring system to support doctors, pharmacists, regulators and law enforcement, saving millions for taxpayers.

In 2004 and 2005 MDC’s innovative “Drama Camp” offered a week of intensive theatrical study with life skills training to 25 at-risk youth, ages 14-17, at no cost to their families.

In April of 2006, MDC celebrated 20 years of strengthening Knoxville/Knox County with a special event. The keynote speaker was the nation’s Drug Czar, John P. Walters, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

In September of 2009, MDC offices relocated to the Historic Lyons View School on Lyons View Pike. The building has a unique history, and the City and County were gracious in their support and contributions towards making the move a reality.

In early 2010, Catherine Thatcher Brunson resigned as the Executive Director. The Board of Directors, hired Karen Pershing as its fourth Executive Director.

MDC formed a prescription drug task force comprised of medical and law enforcement leaders along with Rep. Bill Dunn, Tennessee Department of Health and the TBI to collectively work on the issue of prescription drug abuse. As a result two bills were passed (ID and Naloxone) in the first year and educational efforts showed a decline of 25 percent in prescribing of narcotics in Knox County.

Following eight years of success, Youth Action Council transitioned to Leadership Knoxville and became Youth Leadership Knoxville. MDC transitioned to Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).

Through legislative advocacy, MDC and the prescription drug task force led an effort to support a bill to strengthen pain clinic regulations in 2015.

In February, 2015, the Born Drug Free Tennessee education and awareness campaign was launched to reduce babies being born drug exposed and suffering from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS).

In 2016, MDC celebrated their 30th anniversary with a special event and an announcement of their rebranding efforts. The Metropolitain Drug Commission became the Metro Drug Coalition.

Youth Metro Drug Coalition launched in Knox County High Schools. Members of YMDC have a personal connection to addiction or a passion for substance abuse prevention.

MDC received a three-year grant from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). MHFA is a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues.

Became first agency in Tennessee to offer national certification in recovery coaching

In October of 2019, MDC launched The Gateway Recovery Community Center initiative.

In December of 2019, with the help of philanthropist and the City of Knoxville, MDC purchased the building for The Gateway.

MDC was the first organization in the state to receive the Building Communities of Recovery grant, which is a highly competitive three-year grant through the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) supporting the expansion of comprehensive recovery services in the Knoxville region.