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Brunswick, Georgia, is the largest city within and the county seat of Glynn County, Georgia. It is located on the southeastern coast of the U.S. state of Georgia, at the mouth of the Great Ogeechee River near the Atlantic Ocean and its historic colonial port. Increasingly, finding substance abuse treatment in Brunswick has become a priority, and our guide is here to help!
The city was founded in 1771 at the site of Fort James Jackson (1770), which was built to protect American settlers from attacks by European powers and their Native American allies in the ongoing Yamasee War.
The city’s harbor proved to be an ideal location for shipping cotton out of Georgia, and it developed as a major seaport during the nineteenth century. The construction of a deep-water channel into Brunswick made it more accessible to larger ships, increasing its importance as a commercial center. In addition, it served as a central railroad terminus for many years.
Despite the relatively small size of Brunswick, especially when compared to other cities in Georgia, the crime rate is quite surprising. According to a study by WalletHub, Brunswick ranked as the fifth most dangerous city in Georgia for 2019. The study considered six factors: crime rate and law enforcement presence per capita.
Brunswick, GA, has around 21,000 people, making it a small town with a significant drug problem. Drugs are becoming more common in this area due to the proximity to larger cities such as Atlanta and Savannah.
Many people from Brunswick go to these cities to buy drugs because they are cheaper than what they would pay at home. This means that there is an influx of drugs coming into the city every day and an influx of money coming out of the town. This creates a big problem for law enforcement trying to keep up with the flow of drugs into their city.
What’s most ironic is that citizens in Brunswick commute to purchase narcotics when the most significant amounts are often just miles away. Because Brunswick is a port town, it’s a central import and distribution hub for large quantities of narcotics.
The city has seen its share of major drug busts in the past and recently. In fact, over the three decades, Brunswick has been ranked as one of Georgia’s top five cities for cocaine trafficking. In addition to cocaine, Brunswick has also been a conduit for marijuana and methamphetamine.
In 1992, federal agents arrested two men in Brunswick who were suspected of smuggling large quantities of cocaine into the country from Colombia. One man was a former police officer fired after being convicted of theft charges in 1989. The other man had served prison time for armed robbery before being hired as an officer with the city’s police department in 1987.
In December 2009, an undercover operation led to the arrest of 10 people suspected of distributing large amounts of drugs throughout Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. The investigation included wiretaps on phones used by members to coordinate transactions.
In December 2015, police officers raided a home in Brunswick after receiving a tip that it was being used as a meth lab. They found two people inside who were arrested and charged with manufacturing meth and possession of meth with intent to distribute it.
In February 2016, police busted a marijuana grow house in Brunswick after receiving an anonymous tip. They found more than 100 marijuana plants at the home and equipment for producing and distributing them. Two men were arrested and charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, maintaining a dwelling for drug purposes, control of drug-related objects, and violation of probation.
In October 2016, police officers raided another home in Brunswick after someone called in an anonymous tip about possible drug activity. They arrested two men on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and manufacture methamphetamine.
Recently, a major drug bust took place at a local apartment complex where police found more than $100,000 worth of methamphetamines and other drugs like marijuana and prescription pills. Police believe that this bust was related to another significant drug investigation earlier this year that resulted in multiple arrests.
Brunswick police have also made several other arrests related to illegal drug activity, including:
February 2017: A man was arrested for possession and intent to distribute marijuana after being pulled over for speeding on Interstate 95 and found two pounds of marijuana in his car. The man was charged with felony possession with intent to distribute marijuana which carries up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
April 2017: A woman was arrested after allegedly trying to smuggle heroin into the Brunswick County Detention Center while visiting her boyfriend. He was arrested on felony charges of trafficking in methamphetamine in March of the same year.
In more recent news, a 12-count indictment led to the arrest of seven high-profile drug traffickers in the Brunswick area. In January of 2021, seven men were indicted on multiple counts of fentanyl and other drug trafficking charges. They were assumed to be a part of a multi-state drug network that imported vast amounts of narcotics.
Finally, just this month, in May of 2022, a month-long investigation led to the arrest of two men who had over 2,000 grams of various narcotics in their truck. During the incident, police confiscated the following from the suspect’s vehicle:
However, an additional search of the suspect’s home uncovered:
The trafficking element is leading to more widespread possession and addiction, worsening a problem among residents. However, Brunswick has still made strides to combat both problems proactively.
What has Brunswick, GA, done to battle substance abuse problems and help addicts?
The city’s police force has increased its efforts to keep drugs out of the city limits. Officers have been given special training on how to spot drug dealers and addicts. They also have access to drug dogs that can sniff out drugs in cars or homes.
In addition, Brunswick has established several treatment centers within the city limits that offer help to addicts who want treatment. These facilities provide counseling services and medication-assisted therapy options such as methadone or Suboxone.
The city has also created programs to help people get back on their feet after becoming sober so they don’t fall back into using again. These programs include job placement assistance and housing assistance, so people don’t end up on the streets without money or shelter.
The Brunswick-Golden Isles Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was created in 2014 as a nonprofit organization to provide emergency medical services to the city’s residents. They also offer training and education programs for first responders in the area to serve better those who need help with substance abuse problems or other medical emergencies.
Anyone moving to Brunswick, GA, permanently has access to plenty of employment opportunities after completing treatment. There’s also access to multiple types of recreation to keep ex-users who are in recovery occupied.
Brunswick has a strong economy, with many manufacturing jobs available at Walmart and Delta Airlines. Other large employers in the area include:
Individuals with specialized training or service members may also find the two following locations attractive:
Fort Stewart – This Army base is located near the center of town and employs thousands of people from around the country at both civilian and military positions.
Plant Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant – This nuclear facility opened in 1987 and currently employs about 2,800 people.
The cost of living in Brunswick is much lower than in most other cities in Georgia. The median income for a family here is $56,267, compared to $55,211 statewide. The median home value here is $165,300 compared to $184,400 statewide, which means owning a home here can be much more affordable than in other parts of Georgia.
The city hosts attractions for those who are residents and those who are visiting alike. One of these attractions is the Jekyll Island Club Hotel Golf Course which Donald Ross designed in 1923. The course was designed to look like an English country club, and it features many old-world style golf holes with bunkers made from Alabama red clay.
The town is also rich in Civil War history and memorabilia. One of the most famous examples is the Fort McAllister Historic Site, built by Union forces during the Civil War as part of their defense against Charleston harbor defenses.
Not to mention the fact the city is situated on the Atlantic, giving you direct access to the ocean’s healing properties.
If you’re near Brunswick, GA, and need help locating the best substance abuse treatment centers for your needs, visit Rehabs Of Armerica and take advantage of their knowledgeable recovery representatives to find top treatment options quickly and confidentially.
Edward lives and works in South Florida and has been a part of its recovery community for many years. With a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts, he works to help Find Addiction Rehabs as both a writer and marketer. Edward loves to share his passion for the field through writing about addiction topics, effective treatment for addiction, and behavioral health as a whole. Alongside personal experience, Edward has deep connections to the mental health treatment industry, having worked as a medical office manager for a psychiatric consortium for many years.
