SOUTH CAROLINA (WSAV) - For the first time in more than a decade, the South Carolina Department of Health said the latest numbers show a drop in overdose deaths, according to the 2023 Drug Overdose Deaths Report. There were 2,157 drug overdose deaths in South Carolina in 2023. That was a 6.1% dec rease from the 2,296 drug overdose deaths in 2022. Before 2023, the last time South Carolina saw a decrease in drug overdose deaths was 2012. "This data reflects our hard work and shows our state heading in the right direction. While we celebrate this achievement, we still have a long way to go in our efforts to reduce drug overdose deaths in our state," said Dr. Edward Simmer, interim DPH director. In Beaufort County, 33 people overdosed in 2023. That is down nine from 2022. Jasper County's death toll rose by eight to 34. Hampton County's increased from three to five. Colleton County's deaths doubled from 12 to 24. Despite the numbers not being perfect, Dr. Simmer said the efforts in local counties have been key to helping stem the tide of overdose deaths in the State. "Local groups often have the trust of the people in their area," said Dr. Simmer. "They know what the community is like. They know what the community needs. They know how to communicate with that community. So absolutely, we are very focused on working with local groups all across the state. But, you know, one county at a time, one even smaller area. And I think that's ultimately how we get to the root of this problem." Nationally, including South Carolina, the synthetic opioid fentanyl continued to be largely responsible for a vast number of overdose deaths. Fentanyl was involved in 1,550 of the state's 2,157 overdose deaths in 2023. "The cross-sector coordination between public safety and health services has been essential to reducing overdoses and saving lives," said Sara Goldsby, South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) director. "Implementing evidence-based strategies that enhance prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts yields results. The supplemental federal funds that South Carolina has received in recent years have been instrumental in expanding access to treatment and recovery services, increasing prevention initiatives, and strengthening community-based support systems. These resources have allowed us to take a more comprehensive approach to addressing the overdose crisis and improving outcomes for individuals and families across the state." DPH and DAODAS reminded all South Carolinians that resources are available for anyone experiencing substance use issues. DPH offers Opioid Overdose (OD) Safety Kits at health departments across the state. Each kit contains two doses of the opioid-antidote medication naloxone (Narcan), five fentanyl test strips, five xylazine test strips, educational materials on how to use everything included and guidance for how to identify an opioid overdose. The naloxone in the kits is a nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, potentially saving a person's life. The fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, in different types of drugs. Xylazine test strips can detect the presence of xylazine, which is a harmful sedative that can create painful wounds on the body and can also cause death. Both fentanyl and Xylazine are often added to other drugs without the user's knowledge, making them even more dangerous. "We now give that (Narcan) to every law enforcement agency that wants it," says Dr Simmer. "We give it to many schools all at no cost. And we also make it available to the public through our health department. Anybody can come into our health department, ask for a dose or two doses of naloxone, and we'll simply give it to no questions at no cost. Unfortunately, we still see a fair number of opioid overdoses, but we're seeing less of them being fatal, more people recovering. And I think that's a significant reason why you're seeing especially the drop in the fentanyl deaths in this report." Call your local DPH health department to check the availability of Opioid OD Safety Kits before pick up. The safety kits are free, and you are not required to answer any questions. To find free naloxone doses and fentanyl test strips available at other Community Distributors, visit justplainkillers.com. For services to treat addiction, visit daodas.sc.gov or embracerecoverysc.com. ...read more read less