This map shows the number of painkiller prescriptions per 100 people. Georgia has almost as many painkiller prescriptions as people in the state.

TIFTON — A forum on drug addiction and behavioral health in Tift County will be held May 10 at 6 p.m. at the YMCA conference center, located at 1657 South Carpenter Road.

The forum is the brainchild of Judge Herby Benson, who sits on the Tift County State Court, and is open to everyone.

The forum is sponsored by Tift Regional Medical Center and the Tift County Superior and State Courts.

Drug overdoses now kill more people in the United States than cars or guns. Tift Regional Medical Center experienced seven overdose cases in a two week period over the Christmas holidays and treated a total of 10 in a month.

Dr. Abhinav Saxena, of Affinity Clinic, said that this forum is important is because opioid drug abuse affects rural areas like Tifton more than it does urban areas.

“Our community is not immune from that,” he said, “and we are starting to see signs that this epidemic is about to really take off based on ER visits, how often people are coming in related to either overdose or withdrawal.”

He said that the only treatment for this issue is either getting arrested or going to the ER.

“We’re hoping to raise awareness that this is a brain disorder, it’s not a moral flaw or weakness,” he said. The goal is to help people before they get into legal trouble or begin having problems with work and family life.”

This forum will feature representatives from several agencies who will speak on how addiction is related to their work as well as several individuals who have been directly impacted by addiction, either through personal use or because of the addiction suffered by a family member or close friend.

Each person will speak for several minutes, and then the floor will be opened for the community to ask questions and discuss topics related to mental health and opioids.

Benson said he was only made aware of the scope of the problem in Tift County after he began hearing cases in the state court and began researching the problem.

“This is an important topic and I hope that this forum will help to make the public aware of how addiction is impacting our society on a daily basis, generate open discussion on how to deal with the problems and help to provide much needed resources to combat this disease,” said Benson. 

Food and beverages will be provided.

Attendees should RSVP to Amanda Ramshead at Tift Regional Medical Center

For more information contact Benson at (229) 386-7921 or at herbert.benson@tiftcounty.org.