S.C. sees 2nd straight drop in annual overdose deaths

MORNING HEADLINES | Opioid deaths dropped across the Palmetto State for the second straight year, but despite the progress, the opioid crisis remains a heavy concern for state officials.

Fatal drug overdoses in South Carolina declined for the second consecutive year, according to new data from the state Department of Public Health (DPH). State officials reported a 31.3% decrease in overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing fight against opioid addiction.

Health leaders, however, cautioned that the opioid crisis is far from over. Julia Horan, director of DPH’s Substance Use Prevention Unit, said the progress is worth celebrating.

“Even though overdoses are happening, we are intervening quickly, and we are saving lives. So, we’re keeping the death rate down,” she said in a WCBD-TV report.

Experts attribute the decline to a combination of prevention initiatives, expanded treatment and recovery programs, as well as increased access to life-saving medications like Narcan and naloxone.

Fentanyl remains the leading cause of overdose deaths in South Carolina, contributing to more than 900 deaths statewide in 2024. Experts warn that the rise in mixed drug toxicity, such as cocaine laced with fentanyl, poses an ongoing threat.

Health officials also stressed that continued access to resources, public education, and efforts to destigmatize treatment and response are critical to further reducing overdose deaths.

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