Opioid Deaths in SC

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) released its annual Drug Overdose Deaths Statistical Report for South Carolina. The report shows a significant increase in drug overdose deaths for the year 2020. DHEC numbers show drug overdose deaths jumped by 59% from 2019 to 2020.  1,400 deaths. Staggering numbers.

DHEC blames the synthetic opioid Fentanyl for overdose deaths. Fentanyl was involved in 79 percent of all opioid-involved overdose deaths.

The Just Plain Killers dashboard maintained by DAODAS is in the process of being updated to reflect the 2020 data. The dashboard provides county-level breakdowns of drug overdose deaths and prescription drug dispersion, among other drug-related information.

Just Plain Killers is an education initiative of DAODAS and the state’s Opioid Emergency Response Team (OERT), which is a collaboration between DAODAS, DHEC, South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and others.

There are resources available for anyone experiencing substance use issues. For information on how to access help, treatment, or information, contact DAODAS at 803-896-5555.

Anyone experiencing substance use issues should call a 24/7 support line at 1-844-SC-HOPES. 

Learn more at scdhec.gov/opioidepidemic or daodas.sc.gov/prevention.