Restoration, hurt discount and psychological well being advocates say extra must be carried out to stop drug overdoses within the state.
And plenty of are eagerly awaiting Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature on HB 1175, sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Jen Jordan of Atlanta, that might decriminalize the usage of fentanyl check strips in Georgia.
Fentanyl is a extremely potent artificial opioid that’s tough to detect by style, odor or sight. Even small quantities may cause an overdose.
The fentanyl check strips permit an individual to check for it earlier than taking one other drug.
“We would like individuals to get fentanyl strips. We would like individuals to have Narcan. That’s what saves lives,” says Jeff Breedlove on the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse.
This week, the Atlanta-based U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention experiences at the very least 107,622 Individuals died from a drug overdose final 12 months, the best yearly loss of life toll on document, and a 15% jump over the earlier document the 12 months earlier than.
Breedlove says individuals scuffling with habit and restoration have been particularly exhausting hit by pandemic-related stress and isolation, and limits to the supply of therapy.
“What COVID-19 has carried out is, it’s exacerbated the medical situation behind each psychological well being circumstances and substance use dysfunction circumstances and it’s triggering of us into their medical points round our illness,” he says. “It’s solely going to worsen earlier than it will get higher.”
Georgia’s latest spike in overdoses can be linked to road medication, together with stimulants, mixed with fentanyl, based on numbers from state well being officers.
Between early February and mid-March alone, the Georgia Division of Public Well being reported at the very least 66 emergency division visits involving the usage of fentanyl-laced cocaine, methamphetamine, crack, heroin, painkillers and hashish.
