CDC reports a decline in drug overdose deaths in North and South Carolina

ANDERSON COUNTY., S.C. (WSPA) – According to the CDC,  drug overdose deaths are down in North and South Carolina for the first time since 2018.

The Anderson County Coroner’s Office said there is a decrease in accidental drug overdose deaths. Last year there were 89. There have been 18 so far this year.

According to the Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore, Narcan is the biggest factor saving lives in drug overdoses.

“Our law enforcement, our firefighters, our EMS workers are seeing these overdoses at an alarming rate still, but we’re seeing more people saved by the interventions of the Narcan. The first responders are focusing on getting there quickly and getting that administered,” said Shore.

Even though drug overdose deaths are declining, the coroner said the work is not over yet.

“The Narcan program I think has helped save lives, but it hasn’t helped those that have these addictions. That’s our next phase. We need to focus now on funding organizations that are helping those that are uninsured or underinsured,” said Shore.

Throughout the year, law enforcement agencies and other community partners have worked to spread awareness about the dangers of drugs, providing free Narcan kits and CPR  training.

“The purpose of having these conversations is because these drugs don’t discriminate. It could hit anybody’s home and I feel like our whole community needs to be educated on it because we don’t need to wait till it touches my house before I know what to do with it,” said Bradley Saxton, founder and executive director of Bridge Center Recovery Center.

Shore said he’s concerned about the homeless population not having access to health care.

“I think now we need to be focused on how we can get funding to the agencies that work to help these people in detoxification and recovery,” said Shore.

Recovery centers said they’ve seen a positive change.

“I do think that it would be far greater of a number if there wasn’t Narcan. I think that many overdoses are reversed because of Narcan and people have another chance to live, but I think without that it’s a number that we probably don’t want to see,” said Saxton.

Officials said there are free Narcan kits available at the Anderson County Coroner’s Office.

The coroner’s office has received a $45,000 grant from the opioid settlement to talk with schools, organizations and speak at community events to spread awareness.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.