Georgia Stands up to Fentanyl

The nation’s drug epidemic hasn’t missed Georgia. With the state’s proximity to drug trafficking routes and its populous centers like Atlanta, Georgia has seen its addiction problem worsen dramatically over the last few decades. But no period in the state’s history has been quite as deadly as the last two years, and a big reason for that is the Covid-19 pandemic. But another culprit, fentanyl, is proving to be the most immediate threat right now.

According to Georgia’s Department of Public Health, opioid-involved overdose deaths have been rapidly increasing in the state since 2010. The issue was initially driven by the increased use and misuse of prescription opioids like Oxycontin. But beginning in 2013, illicit opioids such as heroin and fentanyl became a serious threat to the state, causing an even sharper spike in opioid-involved overdose deaths.

Georgia saw a major jump in opioid-related overdose deaths during 2020, fueled by a doubling of the number of fatalities involving fentanyl. Statewide, opioid overdose deaths rose by 36 percent in 2020. Experts say that the COVID-19 pandemic played a large role in the overdose spike.

The opioid crisis did not stop when the pandemic started. Communities across the state began seeing an increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths since the pandemic began. Fentanyl overdose involving non-pharmaceutical grade fentanyl falsely sold as Xanax or pain pills has spread across the state. Counterfeit pills were found in Chattahoochee, Dooly, Harris, Muscogee, Schley, and Taylor counties. Between December 2019 and April 2020, the number of fentanyl-involved overdose deaths in the state rose by 17%.

But the increase in drug overdose death during the pandemic wasn’t unique to the Peach State. In August of 2020, the CDC reported that younger adults, racial and ethnic minorities, and essential workers across the country were experiencing increased rates of substance use associated with Covid-19. More specifically, 13.3 % of adults reported having started or increased their substance use to cope with stress or emotions related to the pandemic.

With more people using drugs during the pandemic and fentanyl becoming more prevalent, it’s no surprise that overdose rates are skyrocketing in Georgia. People often consume the drug unsuspectingly because it’s so powerful only a few grains can kill. And it’s cheap to produce. Often made in labs, the illegal version is sold as a powder or put into pills that look like prescription drugs. USA Today reports that fentanyl in powder or pill form is highly potent, and small amounts can easily be concealed and smuggled into the country and still be profitable.

But what can be done about it?

Thankfully, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has joined more than a dozen others in demanding more action to keep the flow of deadly fentanyl out of their states and the country. The attorney’s general sent a letter to Congress supporting a bill known as the Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues (SOFA) Act. If passed by Congress, the SOFA Act would eliminate the current loophole, which keeps the controlled substance scheduling system one step behind those who manufacture fentanyl and fentanyl analogs. It utilizes catch-all language, which will allow the DEA to preemptively schedule all newly-modified fentanyl analogs, making them illegal before they can hit the streets.

Even more recently, others have joined the fight against addiction in the state. In January 2020, Georgia House Speaker David Ralston introduced bipartisan legislation to overhaul Georgia’s mental health system.   The state currently ranks 48th in the nation for access to mental health and substance abuse services, so it’s no wonder the addiction epidemic has been uncontainable. Since the pandemic began, Georgia’s mental health crisis hotline has experienced a 24% increase in calls, texts, and chats. And mental health screenings have soared by 426%. The measure seeks equal pay for mental health providers compared to other healthcare providers. It also addresses the shortage of mental-health workers and aids police departments forced to serve as first responders to calls involving people with mental illness or substance abuse.

Despite Georgia’s struggle with addiction, the state remains proactive. Fentanyl is currently sweeping the nation, moving West, and leaving a trail of death. However, that doesn’t mean the problem is leaving Georgia. So, rather than continuing to watch its residents suffer and struggle, Georgia is standing up to fentanyl. For the country’s sake, let’s hope they win.