Drug abuse in Georgia

Georgia has a population of 10,799,566 people. The most recent data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 1,299,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 12.03% of the population. 1,229,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 1,782,000 in the past year. The report also found that 204,000 Georgia residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 133,000 had abused meth, and 386,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 71,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in Georgia totaled 419,000 people.

Alcohol abuse in Georgia

Alcohol misuse was also reported in Georgia with 4,232,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 1,817,000 reporting binge drinking. The perceived risk of people over 12 years of age indulging in problematic alcohol use (5 or more drinks twice a week) in a month was 4,622,000 people.

Overdose deaths in Georgia

In 2021, Georgia saw a total of 2380 recorded drug-related overdose deaths. This includes those that were accidental or unidentifiable but excludes those that were related to suicide or homicide. This puts the overdose death toll in Georgia at 22 people per 100,000. The total number of alcohol-related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 1368 or 12.7 per 100,000 people.

Substance use disorders and treatment in Georgia

The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in Georgia and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 1,670,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 1,020,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 238,000 people were recorded as having an opioid use disorder including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based drug use disorders. There are also many who have been diagnosed with or reported a substance, illicit drug, or alcohol use disorder that require rehab treatment and are not receiving it. The report found that 759 people in Georgia needed treatment for illicit substance abuse, 1,066,000 required treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and 1,491,000 needed treatment for a diagnosed substance use disorder.