Drug Surveillance

Opioid-involved overdose deaths have been rapidly increasing in Georgia since 2010, beginning with increased use and misuse of prescription opioids (e.g., Oxycodone and Hydrocodone). Starting in 2013, illicit opioids such as heroin and fentanyl drove the sharp increase in opioid-involved overdose deaths. Beginning in 2020, drug overdoses sharply increased due to the increased presence of fentanyl in in illicit drugs, including in stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine.

The Drug Surveillance Unit monitors overdose trends in Georgia and provides drug surveillance data to the public and to partners working to end the opioid epidemic. This data is also used to detect and respond to rapid increases, or clusters, of overdoses, such as the Counterfeit Percocet-Related Overdose Cluster in Macon during June 2017.

Drug-related Health Alerts

Drug Overdose Case Definitions

Annual Surveillance Data

Monthly and Quarterly Surveillance Data 

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome 

Online Interactive Data

Other Georgia Publications

Other Opioid and Substance Misuse Surveillance Resources

Addiction and Overdose Resources

Drug Surveillance Unit Contact Information

[email protected]

  • Call: (404)-657-2588 M-F, 8am-5pm
  • After Hours, Emergencies: (866) PUB-HLTH (866-782-4584)

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Page last updated 4/2/2025