Georgia Coastal Health District

If you or someone you know is experiencing an overdose, call 9-1-1 immediately.

If you think that you are at risk of an opioid overdose, please call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at 1-888-715-4225.

The Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year to help you or someone you care for in a crisis. GCAL professionals will:

• Provide telephonic crisis intervention services
• Dispatch mobile crisis teams
• Assist individuals in finding an open crisis or detox bed across the State
• Link individuals with urgent appointment services

In addition, GCAL will help you to access a State Funded provider in your area in a non-emergency as well.

Text & Chat

Georgia’s youth can now access GCAL’s services via text and chat through a new app called My GCAL. The app will allow youth to call, text, or chat with GCAL 24/7/365.

If you or someone you know is experiencing an overdose, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Opioid abuse has become an epidemic in the state of Georgia and across the nation. According to the CDC, 48.5 million Americans have used illicit drugs or misused prescription drugs.  Additionally, the number of drug overdose deaths has never been higher in the United States, and the majority of these deaths involve opioids. On average, 130 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. In the midst of this epidemic, it is important to remember that anyone can be affected by opioid use and misuse – deaths from drug overdose are up among all races and adults of nearly all ages.

The Coastal Health District aims to increase the timeliness and comprehensiveness of data and to use that data to inform public health and public safety response and prevention activities. To accomplish this, the Coastal Health District has embarked on a plan to:

• Develop multisector partnerships and coalitions,
• Facilitate the expansion of ODMAP (Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program) to law enforcement and first responders,
• And work with local stakeholders to improve access to medical and treatment resources.

Additionally, District Epidemiology has committed to supporting the early identification of overdose clusters and notifying local partners and the public about any bad drug batches to reduce illicit drug exposure and fatality.

The Coastal Health District recommends the following guidelines to help prevent opioid misuse and addiction:

• Take medication only as prescribed.
• Do not share your medication with anyone.
• Store your medication safely.
• Properly dispose of unused medication immediately.

Several resources exist to support residents of the Coastal Health District who are considering treatment for opioid- or substance use disorder.

The Opioid Treatment Providers of Georgia has certified treatment facilities throughout Georgia. A list of certified facilities can be found here.

Additionally, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides resources throughout the United States. Services include:

• Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990
• Veteran’s Crisis Line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Drug-Free Workplace: 1-800-WORKPLACE (967-5752)

Information about these resources and more can be found at SAMHSA’s Find Treatment page.

SAMHSA also provides a regularly maintained Buprenorphine Practitioners. You can access their practitioner locator here.

Additional resources to find treatment programs and locations:

• Opioid Treatment Program Directory
• Substance Use Treatment Locator
• Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
• Buprenorphine Practitioner & Treatment Program Locator
• Early Serious Mental Illness Treatment Locator

To report an increase in overdoses, a potential overdose cluster, or any other unusual drug-related event, call the Georgia Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

The safety of our law enforcement and first responders is important to the Coastal Health District. These partners are encouraged to remain vigilant in the field and utilize appropriate surveillance and personal protective equipment (PPE) when responding to drug-related incidents. The Georgia Department of Public Health has compiled a list of recommendations and guidelines for professionals to support healthy communities and limit drug exposure.

For additional information, please visit the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Information for First Responders and EMS. Additional resources are provided below:

• EMS Documentation Guidelines
• First Responder Safety & PPE
• Reducing Illicit Drug Exposure
• Fentanyl Exposure Risk
• Georgia’s 9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law
• Standing Order for Naloxone (Narcan)
• Law Enforcement Naloxone Toolkit
• Additional Resources for Law Enforcement

To report an increase in overdoses, a potential overdose cluster, or any other unusual drug-related event, call the Georgia Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Medical providers and pharmacists are encouraged to remain vigilant in response to the current opioid epidemic in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Public Health and the Dose of Reality Campaign have compiled a list of recommendations and guidelines for professionals to help prevent opioid misuse and addiction in their patients.

For additional information, please visit the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Information for Medical Providers and Pharmacists. Additional resources are provided below:

• Prescriber Guidelines
• Pharmacist Guidelines
• Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)
• Naloxone Standing Order
• Georgia 9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law

Health Alerts for Care Providers
Our epidemiology department tracks the spread of disease. To reach the Coastal Health District epidemiologist, call 912-644-5232. Check here for regularly updated information about the issues we are seeing in coastal Georgia. In addition, this page will be updated with information for healthcare providers on current topics of interest.

Opioid Substance Misuse Response
Georgia Opioid Health Alerts

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A Q&A for Healthcare Professionals

Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)

Disease Reporting 

SendSS is an Electronic Reporting system for Notifiable Diseases. All Georgia physicians, laboratories and other health care providers are required to report patients diagnosed with one of the state’s notifiable diseases. Both lab-confirmed AND clinical diagnoses are reportable by law. SENDSS is a much quicker alternative to Form 3095 Notifiable Disease Report Form. To get started click https://sendss.state.ga.us/sendss/login.screen for a registration form. For more information or assistance, call our office at (912) 262-2300.

Additional Disease Reporting Information
Click HERE for disease reporting information for the state of Georgia.
Notifiable Disease Condition Reporting
(Updated 3.11.20)

Disease Information
Aseptic meningitis
MRSA Information for Doctors
MRSA Prevention Poster
MRSA Brochure
Salmonellosis Q and A
Shigellosis
West Nile Virus
State of GA OASIS Arboviral Surveillance
Top 10 things every clinician needs to know about Legionellosis
Pandemic Influenza Facts

Chatham County Community Indicators
The Savannah-Chatham Community Indicators Coalition is pleased to provide a source for reliable community health and population data for Chatham County.This tool provides users with information to improve health and quality of life in their community. Savannah-Chatham hopes that community members and organizations look to this platform as a rich source of data and information about their community.
Click HERE to access community data and resources.

Physician’s Guide to Chatham County’s Public Health Programs for Children: Physicians Guide

Bioterrorism Agents
Anthrax
Botulism
Chlorine
Cyanide
Nitrogen Mustard
Phosgene
Plague
Radiation
Ricin
Sarin
Smallpox
Sulfur Mustard
Tabun

Additional Resources:
American Fact Finder
CDC
OASIS
World Health Organization

For more information about the Coastal Health District’s Epidemiology team, visit our page on Epidemiology.