Despite seeing an increase in the number of opioid-related overdose deaths in recent years, Georgia has placed a moratorium on issuing licenses to clinics that use medicine to treat addiction to heroin or painkillers, according to Kaiser Health News.
Georgia Sen. Jeff Mullis says the reason for putting a freeze on new treatment clinics is to allow the state to explore why so many opioid treatment programs have opened in recent years. Currently, Georgia has 67 active programs, more than any other state in the region, including Florida, which has a population nearly double that of Georgia.
"I don't want to take these facilities away from people who need it, but we need to manage, and govern and regulate the ones that are here, and the ones that are coming here," Sen. Mullis told KHN.
Jonathan Connell, head of the advocacy group Opioid Treatment Providers of Georgia, says the treatment clinic cap focuses on pushing people off medication-assisted treatment.
"If someone stays on a medication, that's not really the issue," Mr. Connell told KHN. "People can still be dependent on something, but not live an active addiction."
Despite his belief that Georgia clinics do not lack regulation, Mr. Connell supports the moratorium, according to the report.
The moratorium went into effect June 1, and will last one year.
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