Georgia Addiction Treatment Centers and Recovery Resources

Georgia Facility Rankings
Total Number	11th (449)
Treats co-occurring disorders	17th (150)
Provides residential detox	18th (17)
Provides outpatient detox	4th (68)
Provides residential treatment	T-13th (80)
Provides outpatient treatment	15th (293)
Accepts private insurance	23rd (173)
Accepts Medicare	15th (115)
Accepts Medicaid	14th (201)
Accepts payments on a sliding scale	18th (187)
No charge for clients who cannot pay	16th (153)

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Georgia Substance Abuse Trends

Alcohol and marijuana are the most common substances of abuse in Georgia, and cocaine and methamphetamine are the most common hard drugs in the state. But heroin and other illicit opioid use has been increasing in recent years, leading to a growing number of drug overdose deaths in the Peach State.

Drug Overdose Deaths in Georgia:

20131,098 deaths

20141,206 deaths

20151,302 deaths

The rate of drug overdose deaths in Georgia increased by 10.2 percent between 2013 and 2014 and by 6.7 percent between 2014 and 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Opioid Use in Georgia

Like other states, prescription opioid misuse has increased recently in Georgia. The rise has led to an increasing number of deadly opioid overdoses, according to the CDC. Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone, such as tramadol and fentanyl, increased by nearly 65 percent between 2014 and 2015. Deaths from heroin increased almost 38 percent. Heroin deaths have dramatically increased in Georgia over the last five years, Vernon Keenan, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, said at a 2015 summit in Atlanta. Today heroin users come from all backgrounds, including the affluent and well educated. People who have become addicted to painkillers are finding heroin is easily accessible and inexpensive. Deaths from natural opioids, such as morphine and codeine, and semisynthetic opioids, including oxycodone and hydrocodone, grew by 10 percent from 2014 to 2015, but methadone deaths decreased slightly.

Opioid overdose deaths in Georgia between 2014 and 2015

Chart of opiod overdose deaths in Georgia

At the summit, Cobb County Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jason Saliba said a new heroin trafficking organization was flooding the state with heroin. The source is now the Mexican cartels, Saliba said. “The heroin is coming with all the other drugs across the Mexican border, and it’s absolutely killing us.”

Georgia Student Health Survey

Alcohol, marijuana and electronic vapor products are the most commonly abused drugs by Georgia high schoolers, according to the 2015-16 Georgia Student Health Survey. Less than 3 percent of high school seniors said they used prescription painkillers, sedatives or stimulants without a prescription. Less than 1 percent said they used methamphetamines.

Treatment and Intervention Resources

Georgia supports several programs that connect residents with treatment facilities and recovery resources. The state also provides funding for several treatment programs.

Georgia Crisis and Access Line

The Georgia Crisis and Access Line provides emergency mental health services for individuals in crisis. First responders will be sent to assess the situation, de-escalate the crisis and provide referral services. The line also provides referral services for a number of mental health issues, including substance use.

HELPLINE Georgia

HEPLINE Georgia offers free substance abuse crisis intervention and referral services for anyone in Georgia. Individuals with substance use issues or their friends, families or employers can call the help line to speak to a trained specialist and receive information on treatment, self-help groups, laws and other topics.

DUI Intervention Program

Every person convicted of driving under the influence in Georgia must attend an educational risk-reduction program and receive a substance use assessment. If the assessment reveals a need for treatment, the person must complete a substance use treatment program approved by the state.

Adolescent Treatment Programs

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities funds two intensive residential treatment programs for teens in Georgia. Located in Marietta and Keysville, the programs provide around-the-clock supervision for teens ages 13 to 17 who are in need of treatment for substance use disorders.

Substance Abuse Prevention Programs

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities supports a variety of substance abuse prevention initiatives. Numerous community organizations also work with the state to reduce problematic alcohol and drug use.

Georgia Council on Substance Abuse

The Georgia Council on Substance Abuse prevents the negative consequences of alcohol and drug use through a variety of efforts across the state. The council influences public policy on addiction treatment and recovery. It provides educational and training programs, and it disseminates information to relevant organizations.

Council on Alcohol and Drugs

The Council on Alcohol and Drugs is a nonprofit that develops evidence-based programs to prevent substance abuse in workplaces, schools and communities. It’s an official affiliate of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and is located in the chamber’s offices in Atlanta. Since 1993, the council has been the state’s official provider of drug-free workplace programs.

Drugs Don’t Work

In partnership with the Council on Alcohol and Drugs, the Drugs Don’t Work program assists businesses in creating drug-free work environments. Businesses can receive discounted drug-free workplace programming and educational materials to inform their employees.

Georgia Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Collaborative

Run by the Council on Alcohol and Drugs, the Georgia Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Collaborative reduces prescription drug abuse through educational and monitoring programs, proper disposal initiatives and law enforcement efforts.

Alcohol Prevention Project

The state’s Alcohol Prevention Project uses epidemiological data to support evidence-based prevention programs. The goal is to prevent early alcohol use among minors and reduce binge drinking and heavy drinking among young adults.

Georgia Teen Institute

The Georgia Teen Institute is a statewide program run by Gwinnet United in Drug Education. GUIDE establishes youth action teams across Georgia, and it hosts an annual four-day camp at Oxford College to provide prevention workshops. The teams plan peer-based prevention programs at the camp, and they implement them in their communities.

Generation Rx Project

Funded by a federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant, Gen Rx is a state program that strives to reduce prescription drug abuse among teens and young adults in high-risk counties, including Catoosa, Early and Gwinnett counties.

Maternal Substance Abuse and Child Development Project

The Maternal Substance Abuse and Child Development Project raises awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol and drug use during pregnancy. The project promotes awareness through media campaigns, and it offers training sessions on child development and substance abuse in communities across the state.

Voices for Prevention

Voices for Prevention collaborates with health providers, addiction professionals, prevention advocates and community organizations in Georgia to create a unified strategy to prevent alcohol and drug use. It researches and recommends policies to improve public health and educates the public on relevant issues.

Georgia School of Addiction Studies

The Georgia School of Addiction Studies is an annual conference for law enforcement, prevention specialists, treatment providers, social workers, legal professionals and others involved in the treatment and rehabilitation of people with substance use disorders. The conference is a networking and professional development opportunity.

Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program

Teens under the age of 18 are required to complete the Georgia Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program before receiving a driver’s license. The program is a four-hour course that is offered in high school or online.

Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency

The Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency enforces the state’s Controlled Substances Act and Dangerous Drug Act. It works with the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy to develop and enforce the state’s pharmaceutical regulations, and it provides informational resources to the public.

Georgia Prevention Project

The Georgia Prevention Project originally focused on reducing methamphetamine use, but it expanded its programming to address a variety of illicit drugs. The organization implements statewide awareness campaigns and educational programs involving partners in communities across Georgia.

Georgia Overdose Prevention

Georgia Overdose Prevention is a volunteer organization composed of health professionals and community members who have been affected by deadly drug overdoses. The group was formed to advocate for the Georgia 911 Medical Amnesty Law, which provides legal immunity to people who call 911 to report someone experiencing an overdose. Today, Georgia Overdose Prevention helps implement the law by raising awareness.

The GA Network

The Georgia Network for Substance Abuse Prevention in Higher Education, commonly referred to as the GA Network, organizes resources and support for evidence-based alcohol and drug programs on college campuses in the state. It provides a forum for institutions to collaborate, and it sets standards for alcohol and other drug programming.

View Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, December 16). Drug Overdose Death Data Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/statedeaths.html
Georgia Association of Recovery Residences. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from https://www.garrnow.org/about-us.html
Georgia Association of Recovery Residences. (2017, January 4). Quick Reference List. Retrieved from #
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. (n.d.). Access Services. Retrieved from https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/access-services
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. (n.d.). Adolescent Services. Retrieved from https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/adolescent-services
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. (n.d.). Alcohol Prevention Project. Retrieved from https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/alcohol-prevention-project
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. (n.d.). Drugs Don’t Work. Retrieved from https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/drugs-don%E2%80%99t-work
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. (n.d.). DUI Intervention Program. Retrieved from https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/dui-intervention-program-0
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. (n.d.). DUI Intervention Program Website. Retrieved from https://gaduiintervention.dbhdd.ga.gov/
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. (n.d.). Gen Rx. Retrieved from https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/gen-rx
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. (n.d.). Georgia Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Collaborative. Retrieved from https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/georgia-prescription-drug-abuse-prevention-collaborative
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. (n.d.). HELPLINE Georgia. Retrieved from https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/helpline-georgia
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. (n.d.). Maternal Substance Abuse and Child Development Project. Retrieved from https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/maternal-substance-abuse-and-child-development-project
Georgia Council on Substance Abuse. (n.d.). Who we are. Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20161027214447/http:/gasubstanceabuse.org/who-we-are/
Georgia Department of Driver Services. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ADAP. Retrieved from http://www.dds.ga.gov/faqs/index.aspx?faqcategoryid=10
Georgia Department of Education. (2016, June 22). Georgia Student Health Survey. Retrieved from http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/GSHS-II/GSHS%20State%20Reports/2016/State%20Report%202016.pdf
Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency. (n.d.). What We Provide. Retrieved from https://gdna.georgia.gov/what-we-provide
Georgia Prevention Project. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from #
Georgia Overdose Prevention. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from http://www.georgiaoverdoseprevention.org/about
Georgia School of Addiction Studies. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from http://www.thegeorgiaschool.org/about_us/index.htm
GUIDE, Inc. (n.d.). Georgia Teen Institute. Retrieved from https://guideinc.org/what-we-do/georgia-teen-institute/
Kennesaw State University. (n.d.). GA Network. Retrieved from http://ganetwork.kennesaw.edu/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016, March). National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS): 2014 Retrieved from http://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/dasis2/nssats/2014_nssats_rpt.pdf
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2017, January 4). Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions by Primary Substance of Abuse, According to Sex, Age Group, Race, and Ethnicity Year = 2013. Retrieved from https://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/webt/quicklink/GA13.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2017, January 4). Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions by Primary Substance of Abuse, According to Sex, Age Group, Race, and Ethnicity Year = 2014 Retrieved from https://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/webt/quicklink/GA14.htm
The Council on Alcohol and Drugs. (n.d.). Mission and Vision. Retrieved from http://www.livedrugfree.org/About-Us.2.0.html
The United States Attorney’s Office Northern District of Georgia. (2015, August 31). Atlanta Summit on Exploding Heroin Abuse and Overdose Deaths in Georgia. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/atlanta-summit-exploding-heroin-abuse-and-overdose-deaths-georgia
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Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Georgia

Addiction Treatment in Georgia

Most Treated Addictions in Georgia

Treatment Admissions by Substances (2014)

Alcohol & another drug

Marijuana

Alcohol

Cocaine

Amphetamines

Prescription Opioids

Heroin

Tranquilizers

Sedatives