With the release of the latest numbers from County Health Rankings.org, Chattooga County’s overall health rankings continue to put the county in the bottom 25% statewide and part of the problem is the number of drug-related deaths.

In addition to factors such as the number of residents who smoke and an obesity rate well above the state and national average, one of the most deadly factors affecting the county is the number of opioid-related deaths.

Since 2019, there have been 27 drug-related deaths in Chattooga County, many of those connected with opioid overdoses.  That rate is almost double the state average ranking.

The Northwest Georgia Department of Public Health says that in 2020 there was an uptick in opioid-related deaths in Northwest Georgia.  In the ten-county region, there were 116 deaths last year – an increase of 45%.

Health experts say that mental health during the pandemic could have a lot to do with the increase in prescription drug-related abuse and death.  The Northwest Georgia Department of Public Health is reminding residents one of the best ways to help control the problem is to get rid of unused opioids and other prescription drugs.

Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader says that county residents have been good to bring unused prescriptions by the drug drop-box located at his office.  The sheriff told WZQZ News that the drop-box stays full most of the time.  In fact, the sheriff said that he will soon be scheduling the incinerator to get rid of the drugs.