August 5th, 2024 – 3:30 PM
Ethan Garrett – WRGA Digital News Editor & Video Reporter –
Georgia Attorney General, Chris Carr, hosted the latest meeting of his statewide Opioid Task Force at GNTC on Monday morning.
The primary topic of discussion was how the State is continuing its efforts in the “War on Fentanyl.”
Local leaders, law enforcement officials, state agency representatives, and recovery and addictions specialists joined Carr.
To see highlights of the Attorney General’s speech, please see the video above.
Attorney General Press Release:
The AG is “declaring war on fentanyl.” According to Georgia DPH (in attendance), the total number of opioid-involved overdose deaths in Georgia increased by 302 percent from 2010 to 2022. Opioids, specifically fentanyl, appear to be driving these increases. From 2019 to 2022, fentanyl-involved overdose deaths in Georgia increased by 308 percent.
The AG’s Gang Prosecution Unit recently worked with Richmond County and surrounding law enforcement to recover 7.5 kilograms of fentanyl, which is estimated to be enough to kill 3.5 million Georgians
Following years of active litigation, and by joining various settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retail pharmacies, AG Carr has been able to secure roughly one billion dollars for our state and local governments to expand access to critical treatment, prevention, and recovery services. The funds will be received and distributed over time, with many administered through the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust.
More information about that Trust can be found here: https://www.gaopioidtrust.org/.
More information regarding those settlements is linked below:
- https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2023-01-05/carr-georgia-joins-national-opioid-settlements-cvs-walgreens-teva-and
- https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2022-12-19/carr-georgia-joins-31-billion-national-settlement-walmart-resolve-opioid
- https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2022-01-07/carr-georgia-joins-26-billion-settlement-opioid-distributors-and-johnson