On July 1, new laws will go into effect in a number of U.S. states. One Tennessee law would make suspicion of opioid impairment sufficient to establish evidence of driving under the influence.
In August 2023, Ben Kredich was struck and killed when a vehicle swerved off the road. The driver, Shannon Walker, had apparently passed out behind the wheel while under the influence of opioids; in April, a grand jury indicted Walker on charges including vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, and possession of controlled substances.
