Aug. 31 is Overdose Awareness Day in Forsyth County
News August 22, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – On Aug. 31, many city and county buildings and facilities will be lit with purple in recognition of Overdose Awareness Day in Forsyth County.
In a proclamation introduced at the last Forsyth County Board of Commissioners meeting, Chairwoman Cindy Mills revealed some alarming statistics:
- In 2020, 94,000 people died of a drug overdose in the U.S., an average of 256 a day;
- From 2010 to 2020 opioid-related overdose deaths in Georgia increased by 270 percent;
- In 2020, the Georgia Student Health Survey reported that 241 Forsyth County students in grades 6-12 said they had used heroin in the last 30 days;
- 216 Forsyth County students grades 6-12 reported using methamphetamine at least once in the last 30 days;
- 392 Forsyth County students reported taking a prescription drug that was not prescribed to them.
Following Mills’ reading of the proclamation, community members who lost loved ones spoke about the need to raise awareness in order to combat the stigma and educate our community about prescription overdose prevention.
Members of the group said they would host a Teacup Memorial along with the United Way on Aug. 31 during which they will display banners depicting the faces of those who were lost to an overdose.
Forsyth County leaders meet to address COVID-19 Delta Variant
Press Release August 12, 2021
Forsyth County Forsyth County, Georgia – Following a recent uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases, and reports of the virus’s Delta variant spreading, Forsyth County government leaders met with the County’s Emergency Management Agency Director, Northside Hospital Forsyth administration and officials with District 2 Public Health (D2PH) on Aug. 2.
“Hearing our local health leaders and partners discuss the increase in positive cases is unsettling,” said Forsyth County Chairwoman/District 4 Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills. “The data shows a growing number of positive cases in our community, primarily among those who are unvaccinated. We will be closely watching the data and will be growing communication with our health partners.”
Officials with D2PH and Northside Hospital Forsyth urged the importance of being vaccinated. Northside Hospital Forsyth COO Lynn Jackson stressed that the COVID-19 cases admitted to the hospital are primarily from those who are not vaccinated.
“The hospitalized COVID-19 positive cases are significantly on the rise in our hospital,” said Jackson during the meeting. “Of those hospitalized for COVID-19, roughly 85% have not been vaccinated, of those who are positive and vaccinated nearly all have co-morbidities or some other health issues going on.”
D2PH officials inquired about nursing staff availability to which Jackson replied, “there are certainly hiring opportunities for nurses, especially in critical care areas.”
The following statistics are from an Aug. 1, 2021, Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) report: – Forsyth County residents fully vaccinated – 108,482 (48% of residents) – Forsyth County residents with at least one vaccine dose – 117,736 (52% of residents) – Forsyth County COVID-19 confirmed new daily cases – 74% increase from July 1 – * Northside Hospital Forsyth admissions due to COVID-19 – 330% increase since July 26 *Data provided by Northside Hospital Forsyth, 110 E. Main Street, Suite 210 | Cumming, Georgia 30040 | (770) 886-2802 | forsythco.com
According to the DPH report, Georgia had 586 positive COVID-19 cases on July 1. The total number of statewide new cases on Aug. 2 was 2,331, an increase of 75%. COVID-19 vaccines are administered at all D2PH locations, including the Forsyth County Public Health Office (428 Canton Hwy.), during the following date/times (all offices are closed for lunch between 12:30 and 1 p.m. daily):
— Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
— Tuesday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Friday o 8 a.m. to noon
Appointments can be made through the state’s Department of Public Health page, although walk-ins are welcome.
“With the COVID-19 Delta variant here and cases on the rise, I made the decision to get the vaccine even after having the virus. We know the vaccine is doing its job, so I did it and you can do it too,” said Mills. Information on COVID-19 vaccines, provided by Georgia DPH.