The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is partnering with the Georgia Council for Recovery and the Clinton Foundation for a 48-stop bus tour aimed at raising awareness for the over 800,000 Georgians living in long-term recovery.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, drug overdose deaths in the state increased by about 62% from 2019 to 2021. The increase is partly due to the rise of opioid overdose deaths.
The goal of Mobilize Recovery Across Georgia is to bring the communities together to uplift and support those overcoming substance abuse or living with a mental disorder, according to Chris Thrasher, CEO of Substance Use Disorders and Recovery at the Clinton Foundation.
“Recovery is real for more than 800,000 people in communities across Georgia. By supporting peer-positive recovery programs, we support peers and their families, enhance law enforcement and first responders, build a stronger workforce, provide our health care professionals with vital resources, and build stronger communities,” Kevin Tanner, Commissioner, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), said at a news conference announcing plans for the tour.
The bus tour will stop in Jefferson Sept. 15 at noon at the Jefferson Agriculture Facility and in Gainesville Sept. 21 at J’s Place Recovery Center at 6:00. The final stop will be in Cumming Sept. 23 for a rally and wrap-up at City Center Amphitheater at 2:00.
Click here for a list of scheduled stops and more on overdose cases in the state:
MOBILIZE RECOVERY ACROSS GEORGIA – EDUCATING | MOTIVATING | CELEBRATING | ENGAGING | MOBILIZING
(Pictured: DBHDD Commissioner Kevin Tanner speaking to the Cumming Rotary Club recently.)
(georgiarecorder.com contributed to this story)