Overdose Response Coming to Rural Communities in Georgia

Provisional data indicate that drug overdose deaths dropped 17 percent in the United States between July 2023 to July 2024—the largest decrease on record. That adds up to about 19,000 lives saved. And after decades of rising fatalities, it’s heartening to those who’ve spent years diligently working to address this devastating crisis. A program similar to the one that’s had a featured role in this reduction is now poised to support rural communities in the State of Georgia. 

Experts credit the reduction in drug overdose deaths to better access and acceptance of addiction treatments, along with the increased spread of medications that reverse the effects of an opioid overdose like Naloxone, according to news reports.  

Preventing Rural Drug Overdoses

The CDC Foundation is proud to be a partner in this work, helping communities reduce fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses through a program termed the Overdose Response Strategy (ORS). At its core, ORS connects public health and public safety agencies, so they can share timely information and support innovative and evidence-based strategies to reduce overdoses. This includes, for instance, installing Naloxone dispensing machines in neighborhoods that most need them.

In Georgia, drug overdoses remain a significant concern, with 2,183 deaths reported in July 2024 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And while substance use issues in urban areas like Atlanta are well known, there’s less awareness about the overwhelming impact they’re having on rural communities. 

For example, it’s more difficult for people in rural areas to locate and access health care and support services. Rural communities may have higher poverty rates and fewer job opportunities. This can increase the risk of opioid misuse. In addition, people can be reluctant to seek help due to a lack of awareness and the stigma surrounding substance use. And communities might not have the means or knowledge to track the problem. Data can show where, when, how and what kind of help is most beneficial and will make the most impact.

Local Organizations Drive the Response

Now in its seventh year, ORS has placed 61 two-person teams—a public health analyst and drug intelligence officer—covering the 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and soon Washington, DC, and they’ve partnered with organizations in local communities to share data to inform rapid and effective overdose prevention efforts that have proven successful in saving lives. Those solutions work best when they’re designed and implemented by people and organizations within their own communities.

And now the CDC Foundation is privileged to receive a new funding award from the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust, sourced from the state’s opioid settlement money, to continue that important work, focused directly on rural areas. “These grants represent a historic opportunity to bring real solutions—prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction—to those who need it most,” said Kevin Tanner, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner and Trustee of the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust, in discussing how the state’s opioid settlement funds are being deployed.

Providing Support to Deal with Overdose Issues

Over the course of this two-year project, 10-15 rural Georgia communities in greatest need will engage with the CDC Foundation-led program. They’ll go through a collaborative process with community partners to develop an action plan to address specific overdose issues within their area. Then, each community will receive funding, advice and assistance from a team experienced in providing resources, tools, best practices and support to help implement intervention programs tailored to their needs.

In addition to the overall goal of reducing fatal and non-fatal overdoses in rural Georgia, the program aims to build and enhance rural communities’ capacity to use real time overdose data to detect increases, spikes and overdose events and to make sure Naloxone is available where it is needed. Rural counties can also benefit from learning about the most effective interventions from advisors, as well as working in partnership with the CDC Foundation and other organizations to strengthen relationships among neighbors, organizations, agencies, sectors and their community partners.

"I began my medical career in the rural South and admire these communities so much,” said CDC Foundation President and CEO Judy Monroe, MD. “I’m so pleased the CDC Foundation now has the opportunity to support some of these communities as they develop and put into place their own programs and solutions to tackle this continuing drug overdose crisis.”

Learn more about the Foundation’s Overdose Response Strategy program.