Achieving an End to Tennessee’s HIV/HCV/overdose syndemic through Epidemiologic Research
Harnessing Data to Inform Policy & Practice
What is a syndemic?
"Syndemics occur when two or more diseases or health conditions cluster and interact within a population because of social and structural factors, leading to an excess burden of disease and continuing health disparities. Syndemics arise when:
- Two (or more) diseases or health conditions cluster and interact within a population;
- The clustering results in disease interaction — biologic, social, or behavioral — creating an excess burden of disease and continuing health disparities."
HIV, hepatitis C (HCV), and opioid overdoses affect the South more severely than almost anywhere else in the country — and they're deeply connected. Opioid misuse drives shared needle use, which spreads HIV and HCV, creating overlapping crises that are especially severe in rural communities.
The ÆTHER Cohort Study brings together large-scale public health data to better understand where and why these health crises overlap—and how to respond more effectively.
Through our work, we aim to:- Identify communities at highest risk for HIV, HCV, and overdose
- Understand how policies and local conditions affect health outcomes
- Improve prevention strategies, including access to testing, treatment, naloxone, and syringe services
- Provide tools (such as public dashboards) that help health departments act quickly and strategically while also addressing long-term preparedness for future health crises in the region
By looking at the bigger picture — not just individual behavior, but also neighborhood conditions, access to services, and the effects of policy changes — we’re using data in new ways to prevent infections, reduce overdoses, and improve long-term health outcomes in communities that need it most.