Augusta, GA

Bringing awareness to Augusta Richmond county’s number one killer

Published

2 years ago

May 8, 2024

Press Room

Bringing awareness to Augusta Richmond county’s number one killer

AUGUSTA, Ga. –
It’s the number one killer of 31 to 51-year old’s in Augusta-Richmond county.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health—fentanyl related deaths are on the rise.

For National Fentanyl Awareness Day, Serenity Behavioral Health Systems took time out to educate the public.

Fox 54 got the chance to hear firsthand just how dangerous and deadly this drug can be.

Timothy Stephens says he used to abuse almost every drug on the market.

“I already had my second failed marriage, I was pretty much homeless. In my head I was like hey you lost everybody, this doctor obviously cares about you so why mess that up, just go ahead and go to a recovery meeting,” said Stephens

Now Stephens, whose been drug free for over a decade, is the founder of the non-profit, Augusta Recovery Alliance.

The goal—to help people facing the challenges he once encountered.

Stephens says, “I had a beer saved for me that evening and I was like its October 18th 2012, I just threw it in the trash and said I’m going to try my very best and I haven’t had a drink or a drug since. The only way I know how to keep it is by pouring into others and showing them the way out.”

Fentanyl use is on the rise, being found in almost all counterfeit drugs.

“Right now, the findings are suggesting it could potentially be in every illegal drug that is found in the county right now. We can only speculate that maybe because it is cheaper to produce and people are mass producing counterfeit pills,” said opioid public health analyst, Beverly Brown.

Chuck Williamson with Serenity Behavioral Health says the most important thing right now is to educate.

“The street drugs the synthetic stuff, its killing people and we just need to make people aware,” said Williamson. “It’s a big-time issue, we’ve got to take it very seriously and address it. Education, education that’s the main thing.”

That’s why serenity hosted a Fentanyl Awareness Day teaching the community about the dangers surrounding this drug and how to help combat this issue.

One of the main things that can help is having Narcan on hand at all times and knowing how to use it.

You can find free Narcan at the Georgia Department of Public Health in Augusta while supplies are available.

Lifesaving information in the fight against an ever-growing problem.

“At Augusta Recovery Alliance our catch phrase is the best is yet to come, and with the buzz going on for recovery, the best is yet to come,” said Stephens.

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Related Topics:addiction drugs Featured fentanyl

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Augusta, GA

Historic Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident

Published

11 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Historic Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident | News | wfxg.com

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Augusta, GA

Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta

Published

23 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Olu Brown visited Augusta on Friday evening, stopping near the Sand Hills Community Center as early voting continues.

Brown is one of six candidates in the Democratic primary.

Campaign priorities

Brown said his vision as governor would focus on three main areas.

“One, it’s affordability around health care and making sure we expand Medicaid and expand Peach Care and make sure we continue to make our rural health care systems healthy and vital,” Brown said. “Number two, we’ve got to address education in all of Georgia, making sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education, and we’re paying our teachers more. And number 3, we’re protecting the rights of all women. Folks in the Gold Dome shouldn’t be making decisions about their bodies or the choices that they make.”

Brown is running against Amanda Duffy, Derrick Jackson, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Prep student arrested over picture of LEGO gun, threat he called a joke

Published

1 day ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Prep student arrested over picture of LEGO gun, threat he called a joke

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta Prep student was arrested on a charge of terroristic threats over a picture of a LEGO gun he posted on social media.

It happened Wednesday, according to an incident report from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Eric Hedinger, the principal of Augusta Preparatory Day School, told deputies a student had uploaded a picture to Snapchat of a “pistol” with the caption “shooting up the school so I don`t have to take the stats exam tomorrow. Don`t come yall!”

The principal said he spoke to the student and his father about the photo.

The principal also provided deputies with the student’s address in Grovetown.

A deputy went there and was told by the student that the “pistol” was a LEGO set that he had built.

He also said the comment he made was supposed to be a joke because he was not looking forward to taking his Advanced Placement statistics test this week.

The student showed the deputy the box that the LEGO set came in, and how the set was already disassembled.

The deputy also looked in the boy’s room to make sure he was not in possession of any weapons.

The mother advised that there was one firearm in the residence but it was locked up.