Senator from the 39th (State Senator) asked fellow senators to note that more than 1,500 Georgians are expected to gather Jan. 21 for the 16th annual Addiction Recovery Awareness Day, and urged continued bipartisan support for recovery services.

“Let us not forget these sobering facts,” the senator said from the well, adding that “the number 1 cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45 is overdose, often from Fentanyl poisoning.” The senator said about 200 people die every day nationwide from overdose and cited a state estimate of 900,000 Georgians living in recovery.

The senator highlighted recent policy steps and programs by name: the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission, expanded funding for recovery-community organizations and addiction recovery support centers, three Georgia Recovers campaigns and a Georgia Recovers bus tour. The senator also cited the “party act,” saying it “brings meaningful reform to those impacted by addiction.”

Households and communities: the senator said recovery centers and peer-support programs have served roughly 150,000 Georgians and their families in eight years and praised local recovery-community organizations and certified peer specialists.

Why it matters: overdose and fentanyl poisoning remain a major public-health challenge, and senators were urged to continue bipartisan support for funding and programs that expand the recovery workforce, peer services and access to care.

The senator added that recovery work is bipartisan and local recovery groups and officials have formed community working groups to expand services statewide.