This is National Prevention Week, a time for communities and organizations across the country to raise awareness about preventing substance abuse. Jill Gonzalez is an analyst with the personal finance website WalletHub. She says the scope of the problem is massive, with more than 103,500 drug overdose deaths in the 12-month period ending in November 2022.
Gonzalez says Georgia ranks in the bottom half when it comes drug use, but while Georgia doesn’t have the same level of drug use as many other states, the numbers are rising. Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters explains more in our interview.
Analysts say more rehab opportunities, substance abuse facilities, and counselors are needed in the state. The DEA seized more than 410 million lethal doses of fentanyl in 2022.