MACON, Ga. — According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, in 2021 there were 2,390 drug overdose deaths and 71% of those were attributed to opioids.
A Georgia nonprofit called Beyond the Bell is hoping to educate the community on the dangers of fentanyl and heroin with a community town hall. Glenkeith Gordon Phillip Sr. is a stakeholder for Beyond the Bell and says after hearing about overdoses in hotels he wants to warn people of the dangers.
"A lot of times we in the community don't hear about it enough but it's happening. It's an epidemic in the community. If we don't put a big spotlight on it, we don't know when it's going to be right in our home," Phillip said.
In 2022, Bibb, Houston, Laurens, Baldwin, and Peach County reported 105 total overdose deaths. Louvenia Saddler has heard stories of people who were too close to death. She said it made her realize how important it is to save someone's life with Narcan spray.
"It empowered me to press and to do all that I can do to help our city," Saddler said.
Beyond the Bell has locations in Bibb, Rockdale, and Upson Counties. Their goal is to educate kids on the dangers of drugs and underage drinking. Saddler says community leaders and health organizations will talk on Thursday about prevention and why saying 'no' is best.
"It's just a crisis, a pandemic looks like going on with this OD-ing going on on prescription drugs and street drugs," Saddler said.
Phillips hopes through meaningful discussions between community leaders and residents of Bibb County, people will talk about drug prevention and protecting the youth.
"That's another big thing where middle schoolers are smoking and vaping. When will fentanyl get into that," Phillip said.
Saddler hopes people will come out and learn something new so they can help someone else because she doesn't want to hear another loss of life to dangerous drugs.
"It might not touch you directly but indirectly you would know what to do if you're in a grocery store, on a street, shopping in the mall," Saddler said.
The town hall is Thursday, June 20, at the Bloomfield-Gilead Recreation Center at 1931 Rocky Creek Road in Macon from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It is free and anyone is welcome to join.