§ 34-370. Opioid abuse a public nuisance.

Fulton County hereby finds and declares the following:

(1)

That addiction to and abuse of opioids by Fulton County residents is one of the greatest challenges facing Fulton County;

(2)

A cause of this increasing crisis is the overabundance of prescription opioids. Vast amounts of prescription opioid pain pills were sold, distributed and prescribed in Fulton County over the past several years which practice continues today;

(3)

There is evidence showing that approximately four in five heroin users began their addiction by first using and then misusing prescription pain medications containing opioids;

(4)

The negligent and/or reckless selling, distributing, and prescribing of large amounts of opioid pain pills by responsible parties in Fulton County has created a public health and safety hazard affecting the residents of Fulton County, resulting in devastation to families in the county, a negative effect on Fulton County's economy, wasted public resources, and a generation of narcotic dependence;

(5)

That the negligent and/or reckless selling, distributing, and prescribing of prescription opioid pain pills by responsible parties is a hazard to public health and safety, which has created a public nuisance to the citizens of Fulton County, and said nuisance remains unabated;

(6)

That, in addition to all other powers and duties now conferred by law upon Fulton County, Fulton County is authorized to enact ordinances, issue orders, and take other appropriate and necessary actions for the elimination of hazards to public health and safety and to abate or cause to be abated anything which the board of commissioners determines to be a public nuisance;

(7)

That certain manufacturers of prescription opioids and those in the chain of distribution as responsible parties have wrongfully abused the privilege of selling and/or providing medication to Fulton County residents and must be held accountable; and

(8)

That it is the duty of Fulton County to vindicate the rights of Fulton County residents and take action to abate this public nuisance.

(18-0097, 2-7-18)