Study: Despite Increase in Drug Deaths, Georgia Faring Better than Most States

WUGA | By Alexia Ridley

Published June 7, 2022 at 7:00 AM EDT

A bag of assorted pills and prescription drugs dropped off for disposal is displayed during the Drug Enforcement Administration's 20th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day earlier this year in Los Angeles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 100,000 died of a drug overdose from April 2020 to April 2021.

Georgia is coming in near the bottom of the list in a recent study, and in this case, it’s a good thing.
According to research by the personal finance website WalletHub,
Georgia is in the bottom ten when it comes to states with the biggest drug problems. However, drug-related deaths have risen in the state and around the nation.
Analyst Jill Gonzalez says that Georgia came in low on the list because the state has fewer drug overdoses than many others, as well as lower rates of illicit drug use by adults and teens, and fewer opioid pain reliever prescriptions.

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Alexia Ridley

Alexia Ridley joined WUGA as Television and Radio News Anchor and Reporter in 2013. When WUGA TV concluded operations, she became the primary Reporter for WUGA Radio. Alexia came to Athens from Macon where she served as the News Director and show host for WGXA TV. She's a career journalist and Savannah native hailing from the University of Michigan. However, Alexia considers herself an honorary UGA DAWG!

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