South Carolina recorded 2,157 drug overdose deaths in 2023, a 6.1 percent decrease from the year before. That drop marks the first statewide decline since 2014, which sounds hopeful until you read the full report: some counties, including Horry County, saw increases from 2022 to 2023. The 2023 South Carolina Drug Overdose Death Report includes county-level data if you want to see where your community stands.
Two local protections exist if you or someone near you uses opioids. Naloxone distribution and safety kits are available free through Department of Public Health clinics across South Carolina, including in Horry County. Naloxone (often called Narcan) reverses opioid overdoses when administered quickly.
South Carolina’s Good Samaritan law protects people who call 911 during an overdose from certain drug possession charges. The law was written to remove the fear that stops people from seeking help. If someone overdoses, call 911. The legal protection matters less than the life.
Horry County Fire Rescue has expanded its harm reduction program, adding specialists who follow up after overdoses to connect people with treatment and resources. It’s a practical acknowledgment that saving a life once isn’t enough if you don’t help that person access care afterward.