08/01/2025
đź’ś August is Overdose Awareness Month
A time to honor lives lost, support those in recovery, and speak truth with compassion and urgency.
In Newton County, we may be a smaller community—but we’re not untouched:
➡️ From 2018 to 2022, we lost 15 lives to opioid overdose—that’s about 3 per year. Every single one was someone’s child, sibling, parent, or friend.
Across Georgia, the impact is even deeper:
➡️ In 2022, Georgia reported approximately 2,687 overdose deaths, a rate of nearly 25 per 100,000 residents.
➡️ From 2010 to 2022, opioid-related deaths in our state rose by 302%, largely due to fentanyl.
➡️ But there's hope—from July 2023 to July 2024, Georgia saw a 16.9% decrease in overdose deaths statewide.
Nationally, the U.S. saw a sharp drop in overdose deaths too, from over 110,000 in 2023 to about 80,000 in 2024—the lowest since 2019.
But here’s the truth:
đź“Š These are not just numbers.
They are lives lost too soon. They are dreams cut short, families shattered, and communities grieving.
Most of these deaths were preventable. Many happened at home, with someone nearby. Which is why access to tools like Narcan is critical.
Heres what keeps us hopeful:
🚨 Free Narcan vending machines are now available at both Newton County Sheriff’s Office precincts—no questions asked. Anyone can take one. You could save a life. If you or someone you love is at risk, you can pick up a kit and be prepared.
đź’ˇ If your organization, church, or workplace wants to be trained in how to use Narcan or learn more about overdose prevention, please reach out to:
📧 haley.newtonco.recovers@gmail.com
Let’s talk about it. Let’s break the stigma.
Let’s fight for those who are still living—and honor the ones we’ve lost way to soon. 💜
