'Lives at stake': State, local officials visit Augusta University to discuss opioid crisis

During the latest Statewide Opioid Task Force meeting at Augusta University Wednesday morning, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr discussed the "war on fentanyl" and his office’s continued efforts to combat the opioid crisis across the state.

Attendees received updates from public, private and nonprofit partners working to address the issue, including Augusta University, Georgia Opioid Abatement Trust, GBI Director Chris Hosey, Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson, Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden, Richmond County Sheriff-elect Eugene "Gino Rock" Brantley, Georgia Sheriff's Association executive director Terry Norris, and Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs president Terry Smith.

"We know that the opioid epidemic knows no geographic, demographic or economic boundaries," Carr said. "So we've got to get all over the state, getting folks talking about the issue of the opioid crisis – how we prevent, how we intervene, what we do on restoration and treatment, and what we do on law enforcement. ... Our Opioid Task Force is bringing everybody together to talk about the issue and [figure out] how we leverage the expertise, assets and resources we have to combat this crisis that's impacting everybody."

Officials with the Georgia Opioid Abatement Trust shared that more than $159 million of a $638 million settlement from opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies, will go to local governments to address the crisis.

"[We are now deciding] how to deploy that money to start saving lives," Carr said. "When you see the academic world, law enforcement world, policymakers and nonprofits that are willing to come together with different ideas and be able to leverage those ideas, [it] gives me hope."

One of AU's local efforts includes a partnership with Hope House to serve women returning to the Augusta area after incarceration.

Data showed of the women who were high risk, lost parental rights and had mental health comorbidity – 85% ended up employed, with stable housing and negative drug screens.

Laura Edison, an epidemiologist with the Department of Health, told attendees that in recent years the number of overdose deaths caused by synthetic opioids, like Tramadol or Fentanyl, were on the rise.

In looking at drug overdose deaths among Georgia adolescents ages 10 to 19, from 2020 to 2023, there was a 171% increase in Fentanyl deaths, according to Edison.

GBI Director Chris Hosey said in FY24, there was a more than 500% increase in Fentanyl recovered in the state.

AU is prioritizing the distribution of harm reduction materials, including Naloxone boxes and Fentanyl/Xylazine test strips to help curb the issue locally.

Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden explained that his crews are on the frontlines of the opioid crisis and announced the department is in the planning stages of implementing a mobile integrated health program offering post-incident recovery aid.

"We respond to the community, which is afflicted by this crisis," Burden said. "People often ask, 'What can the fire department do as it relates to this?' Well, Narcan distribution and training, data collection from our responses, public awareness campaigns, school and community programs, resource coordination, opioid crisis training, advocacy for funding and resources and post-overdose outreach. ... We are part of this and we're here in this fight. Lives are literally at stake. This is a fight we have no choice but to win."

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: 'Lives at stake': State, local officials visit Augusta University to discuss opioid crisis