Athens-Clarke County Police have been training to help the community in emergency situations fighting opioid overdoses.
Narcan is a nasal spray for the emergency treatment of an opioid overdose. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department has been continuing to train its officers in the use of Narcan to help save the lives of those involved in overdose and other negative effects of opioids.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the number of drug overdose deaths in 152 of the 159 counties in Georgia has decreased from 2008 to 2013. (Counties exclude: Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, and Rockdale)
Here are some facts from the GBI on drug overdosing deaths in 152 counties of Georgia:
- Alprazolam, or Xanax, which is used for anxiety was the leading drug for deaths in Georgia at 211 deaths
- 516 deaths were from overdosing on different kinds of narcotic pain relievers
- The most common age of overdosing deaths was between 45-54 with 179 deaths
- 90.63% of deaths were Caucasians
- 56.7% of deaths were males
However, the CDC says the number of deaths involving drug overdose has increased nationally. From 2013 to 2014 the number of deaths in Georgia has increased by 10.2%.
To read more about the number of deaths from drug overdose in Georgia, click here.
To learn more about the number of deaths from drug overdose nationally, click here.
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By: Annie Wimbush
