Macon community rallies to combat surge in opioid overdoses
Macon-Bibb sees 200% rise in opioid overdoses since 2018; local groups and officials mobilize for education and prevention
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Following a sharp increase in opioid overdoses in Macon-Bibb in recent years, community partners are coming together to reduce them through action and education.
From prescription medication like morphine or hydrocodone to illegal drugs like heroin or fentanyl, opioid misuse has grown increasingly common in recent years.
In Macon-Bibb County, the rate of opioid overdoses has risen 200% since 2018, according to data collected by the substance abuse prevention nonprofit, Beyond the Bell.
The nonprofit’s director, Sandra Dean, explains that people may turn to opioids for pain management but may also misuse them to escape feelings of hopelessness.
“It’s steadily started to increase since COVID-19, because people were kind of like shut in the homes and couldn’t get out, depressed and things like that,” Dean said.
Last year, Macon-Bibb was identified as a high-risk community for opioid overdoses by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health.
That’s why Beyond the Bell is working alongside the state department of public health, local law enforcement and substance abuse recovery programs to educate the community about the dangers of opioids and how to respond to overdoses.
“We want to see the community made aware,” Dean said. “We want to see the communities report any suspicious activities that they might see going on in order to help save lives.”
Marissa Cooling, an Overdose Planning & Surveillance Specialist for the Department of Public Health’s North Central Health District, says substance abuse education and prevention strategies have played a part in keeping overdose rates from rising in the past year.
“The good thing is, if there is a good thing, is that we are seeing it flatten,” Cooling explained. “We’re seeing that curve flatten a little bit. We’re not seeing it go down, though”
Strategies include distributing the life saving drug, Narcan, to first responders and community establishments and providing fentanyl testing strips to community members.
Cooling expects more prevention strategies to be implemented this year. She says it will take building partnerships with the community to effectively address the opioid crisis.
“We’re hoping that just getting that awareness out there is going to make our community as a whole more proactive so that we can hopefully see that number, see that number drop,” Cooling said.
Cooling encourages anyone to drop off expired or unused opioid medication at their local sheriff’s office prescription drop box.
There will be an opioid crisis town hall meeting Thursday, January 18 at Greater Bellevue Baptist Church, located on 4041 Mumford Rd in Macon. The meeting is from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and all are welcome to attend.
