The Georgia Council for Recovery
Legislative Agenda 2023
Recovery Is Real
As we approach 2023, the Georgia Council for Recovery has prepared an aggressive set of legislative priorities at the federal, state, and local levels to break stigma and advance peer and family positive addiction recovery policy. While great strides have been made, there is much work to do in 2023 at every level of government and in every community across Georgia.
“As Georgia moves beyond COVID-19, the reality of Substance Use Disorder (addiction) medical issues demands a serious and dedicated response from government at all levels. In the United States, more than 130 people a day are dying from opiate overdoses alone, and Georgia’s share of those tragic deaths are between 3-4 citizens per day. In Georgia, more than 1,900 people died of drug-related causes in 2021, which is a 38.8% increase over data from the previous year. Georgia is facing an epidemic regarding addiction; our public servants must provide new funding to support peer led recovery programs,” said Neil Campbell, Executive Director, The Georgia Council for Recovery.
“Fentanyl overdoses are the number one cause of death among US adults, ages 18-45. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting nearly 108,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States last year – a 50% jump over 2020. 2023 is a critical year for people and communities across Georgia. It is essential that we make 2023 the year Georgia treats recovery from Substance Use Disorder (addiction) as a priority public health issue,” said Campbell.
“There are over 800,000 people in Recovery from Substance Use Disorder (SUD) across Georgia. Together, with our family and friends we will be working to educate our public officials at the federal, state, and local level on the importance of expanding funding for existing peer led recovery programs in communities across Georgia. The number of medical cases are up, at historic levels post COVID, and it is essential Georgia responds accordingly with increased funding,” said Jeff Breedlove, Chief of Policy for The Georgia Council for Recovery.
“In 2023 the Georgia Council for Recovery will work with the Georgia Congressional Delegation to increase their public support for the Georgia Recovery Community. The first opportunity is for every member of the Georgia Congressional Delegation to join the Congressional Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force and support peer friendly legislation and funding. Additionally, the Georgia Council for Recovery will expand our work in local communities across Georgia to increase membership in the Georgia Communities Working Group on Addiction and Recovery. As more local elected officials join, the more stigma is broken and peer positive policies are put in place in our local communities,’ said Breedlove.
The 2023 Georgia Council for Recovery Legislative Agenda
- Expand funding at the state level for our Recovery Community Organizations, CARES Warm Line and CARES Academy
- Secure a vote and voice for peers and families in the Opioid Settlement Funding process
- Work with the Georgia Behavioral Health Innovation and Reform Commission to ensure addiction policies are included in their work
- Work on legislation for standards in recovery housing
- Work on legislation to define a Recovery Community Organization
- Require bars, gas stations, public libraries, schools, and single-room occupancy hotels to post an opioid antagonist kit and instructional poster in an area accessible to employees
- Advance our agenda with the Georgia Congressional Delegation
- Grow Georgia Delegation membership in Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force
- Support efforts to allow naloxone to be classified from BTC to OTC in pharmacies
- Pass the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act in Congress
- Work to pass the Federal Set Aside for recovery
- Grow support with local governments across Georgia
- Work on zoning laws to prohibit local governments from using zoning laws to stop recovery centers and residencies
- Grow the Georgia Communities Working Group on Addiction and Recovery
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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Jeff Breedlove
Chief of Policy and Communications
The Georgia Council for Recovery
404-615-5735
#GARecovers
