What is the current status of fentanyl in Georgia? Is the drug still responsible for rising rates of overdose deaths and emergency department visits?
Contact North Atlanta Behavioral Health today to learn more about fentanyl rehab in Georgia.
History of Fentanyl in Georgia
Rates of opioid abuse, overdose, and death have been at epidemic levels in the United States throughout the 21st century. And Georgia has not been exempt from this crisis.
Though the opioid epidemic has been an ongoing problem, many experts describe it as occurring in three phases or waves:
- The initial wave, which began in the mid-to-late 1990s, was fueled by dramatic increases in the use of oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and other prescription opioids.
- The second wave, which started around 2010, involved increased use of heroin. In many cases, people who had become addicted to prescription opioids turned to heroin due to cost and/or because of laws that limited access to the prescription drugs.
- The third wave, which started in the middle 2010s, is when fentanyl began to appear in large quantities in Georgia and elsewhere. During this period, many illicit manufacturers found that it was easier to produce and distribute fentanyl and fentanyl-like substances (called analogs) than to sell heroin or prescription opioids.
Fentanyl in Georgia Today
It has now been more than a decade since fentanyl use in Georgia became a serious public health crisis. How has the problem evolved in the years since then? And what do families in Forsyth, Fulton, and Cobb counties need to know about fentanyl in Georgia today?
State of the Fentanyl Epidemic in Georgia
After a steady increase over several years, the use of fentanyl and other opioids has recently begun to fall in Georgia.
However, that doesn’t mean that the problem has vanished completely:
- According to an April 1, 2026, press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Middle District of Georgia, two Georgia men faced federal prison sentences of 10 years to life after pleading guilty to conspiring to import 2,610 fentanyl pills weighing 279.64 grams from China.
- The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has reported that as little as 2mg of fentanyl can cause a fatal overdose. The amount of fentanyl smuggled into the country by the Georgia men represents more than 139,000 potentially deadly doses.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks overdose deaths throughout the nation with a program called the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS).
According to SUDORS, which includes data through the end of 2024:
- There were 1,936 overdose deaths in Georgia in 2024. This was an average of 17.4 deaths per 100,000 residents.
- The 2024 totals represented a decrease of 22% from 2023, when the state reported 2,505 overdose deaths, or 22.9 per 100,000 residents.
- In 2023, 65.4% of all overdoses in the state involved fentanyl.
- In 2024, the percentage of fentanyl-involved overdose deaths dropped to 54.8%.
Fentanyl in Forsyth, Fulton, and Cobb Counties Today
2023 is the most recent year that the Georgia Department of Public Health has released overdose and emergency room data involving people who were using fentanyl or other opioids. Here’s a quick snapshot of what occurred in Forsyth, Fulton, and Cobb counties that year:
Forsyth County:
- In 2023, Forsyth County recorded 24 opioid-involved overdose deaths and 84 opioid-related emergency room visits.
- Nineteen of the 24 deaths in Forsyth County, and about 32% of the ED visits involved fentanyl.
- Forsyth County’s rate of 8.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, which was significantly better than the statewide rate of 17.9 opioid-involved overdose deaths per 100,000 residents.
Fulton County:
- Fulton County had 230 opioid-involved overdose deaths in 2023, for a rate of 21.3 deaths per 100,000 people.
- About 210 of those deaths, or around 90%, involved fentanyl.
- Fulton County also had 694 opioid involved ED visits, which was slightly better than the statewide average.
- About 200 of the ED visits, or around 29% of the total, involved people who had ingested fentanyl.
Cobb County:
- Cobb County recorded 134 opioid-involved overdose deaths in 2023, which equates to 17.3 deaths per 100,000 residents.
- About 120 overdose deaths, or about 90%, involved people who had been using fentanyl.
- The county also recorder 406 opioid-involved ED visits, for a rate of 52.3 per 100,000.
- About 145 ED visits (around 36% of the total) were related to fentanyl use.
Signs of Fentanyl Use & Addiction
As indicated by the statistics in the previous sections, fentanyl use is an extremely dangerous behavior. In addition to the continued risk of overdose, people who misuse fentanyl and other opioids are also in danger of developing an addiction.
When you understand what it looks like when someone has been using fentanyl or other opioids, you may be able to intervene before they become addicted to the drugs. Knowing the warning signs of fentanyl addiction can help you connect your loved one with treatment before their compulsion destroys, or perhaps ends, their life.
Fentanyl Use
Signs that could indicate that a person is under the influence of opioids include:
- Elevated mood, to the point of euphoria
- Constricted (pinpoint) pupils
- Slowed breathing
- Extreme drowsiness or lethargy
- Difficulty following conversations
- Delayed physical and cognitive responsiveness
- Impaired balance and coordination
Fentanyl Addiction
Someone who has become addicted to fentanyl or another opioid may exhibit signs such as:
- Dramatic shifts in mood and energy levels
- Using prescription opioids for much longer than directed
- Trying to buy or steal opioids that were prescribed to someone else
- Lying about pain in order to get a prescription for fentanyl or another opioid
- Drop in performance at work or in school
- Failing to pay bills, keep appointments, or fulfill other responsibilities
- Frequently having flu-like symptoms
- Significant change in appetite and weight
- Unexplained financial problems
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Reducing or ending their participation in activities that used to be important to them
- Lying about where they’ve been or who they’ve been with
- Neglecting their appearance and personal hygiene
Find Fentanyl Addiction Treatment in Georgia
If you have become addicted to fentanyl or another opioid, or you know someone who has, North Atlanta Behavioral Health is here to help.
Our outpatient rehab in Atlanta, GA, provides personalized addiction treatment services at the partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient levels. In each of these programs, you one can expect to receive customized care and comprehensive support from a team of experienced professionals.
Working together, we can help you end your fentanyl use and build a foundation for successful, long-term recovery.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
