The fight against substance use disorders (SUDs) in the United States has often been fragmented, leaving gaps in prevention, education, treatment, and recovery support. In Georgia, a new initiative is working to change that reality by uniting nationally recognized leaders in addiction care with a powerful local health system.

The Addiction Alliance of Georgia (AAG) is a collaboration between the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and Emory Healthcare. The partnership is designed to take a comprehensive, community-based approach to addressing addiction by combining prevention, treatment, training, and research. The goal is not only to serve Georgia residents but also to create a model that could be replicated across the nation.

The Birth of the Alliance

Hazelden Betty Ford, based in Center City, Minnesota, is one of the most well-known names in addiction treatment. With 17 locations nationwide, it provides inpatient and outpatient care, addiction research, professional education, and advocacy.

Emory Healthcare is the largest health system in Georgia, with 11 hospitals, more than 250 provider locations, and a strong reputation in medical education and research. Together, these two organizations launched the Addiction Alliance of Georgia with the vision of creating a statewide hub for addiction treatment, education, and recovery.

Nick Motu, project manager for AAG and vice president at Hazelden Betty Ford, explained, “The big picture is to create a hub of expertise, in partnership with Emory, that ultimately will be the leading expert in SUD treatment, education, and recovery support for the state of Georgia — and potentially a model to be replicated in other parts of the country.”

Community-Driven Origins

The idea for AAG emerged with the help of prominent Atlanta community members who had seen firsthand the devastating impact of addiction.

Tom Johnson, the former president of CNN, and Frank Boykin, CFO of Mohawk Industries, played key roles in bringing the project to life. Johnson had a personal connection to addiction recovery through his long friendship with William Cope Moyers, now a vice president at Hazelden Betty Ford. Boykin had previously funded training for medical professionals at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, where doctors were struggling with a surge of opioid-related emergencies.

These efforts sparked the vision of creating an alliance that could not only expand treatment but also strengthen prevention and education in Georgia communities.

How the Alliance Works

The Addiction Alliance of Georgia is structured as a nonprofit venture supported by philanthropic donations, state funding, and federal grants. Its rollout is organized into three phases.

Phase One: Laying the Foundation

The first phase focuses on raising $10 million to support treatment, training, and research. This includes:

• Launching an intensive outpatient program (IOP) at Emory’s Brain Health Center, where Hazelden Betty Ford will provide training and management support.
• Developing prevention and education programs, including school-based initiatives to help young people build resilience against addiction.
• Investing $1.5 million in research to build a foundation for studying substance use disorders and developing best practices for treatment.

Phase Two: Residential Treatment Expansion

Once outpatient programs and prevention initiatives are established, AAG plans to build a residential treatment facility in Atlanta. This facility will operate as a joint venture between Emory and Hazelden Betty Ford and provide comprehensive care for individuals struggling with addiction.

The goal is to build a $50 million nonprofit enterprise capable of helping thousands of patients across Georgia.

Phase Three: Comprehensive Services

The final phase includes expanding into partial hospitalization and detox services. When fully operational, the alliance expects to treat hundreds of patients each year and provide training and resources across the state.

A Comprehensive Model of Care

The Addiction Alliance of Georgia is unique because it emphasizes prevention and education as much as treatment. By working with schools, primary care providers, and social workers, the alliance hopes to intervene earlier and prevent substance use disorders from taking root.

Mark Rapaport, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University, highlighted the importance of this model: “Our goal is to create a capacity where frontline providers will be able to use the AAG as a resource for more complex cases. We want to get into schools, train providers, and build resilience in young people. This isn’t just about treatment — it’s about preventing addiction in the first place.”

Addressing a Growing Crisis

The alliance comes at a critical time. Georgia has experienced rising rates of substance use disorder, particularly opioid addiction. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the crisis worse, increasing isolation, stress, and overdose deaths nationwide.

By integrating prevention, education, treatment, and research, the Addiction Alliance of Georgia aims to provide a sustainable and scalable response to these challenges.

Looking Ahead

Although AAG is still in its early stages, its long-term vision is ambitious. The alliance hopes to become a statewide leader in substance use disorder services, training, and prevention while also serving as a national model for how communities can address addiction comprehensively.

For patients and families, the alliance will mean better access to treatment and more resources for prevention and recovery. For providers, it will create opportunities for training, collaboration, and access to research-backed tools.

As the alliance grows, it could transform how Georgia and other states approach addiction care, showing that a community-driven, integrated model is the key to fighting substance use disorders effectively.

Conclusion

The Addiction Alliance of Georgia represents a forward-thinking approach to addiction care. By addressing substance use disorders from every angle — prevention, education, treatment, and research — it has the potential to change lives in Georgia and beyond.

More than a treatment program, it is a vision for the future: a community-based model that equips people, providers, and schools with the tools they need to prevent addiction and support long-term recovery.