The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, along with local advocacy groups, is taking urgent steps to address the growing opioid crisis in the Lowcountry. With overdose deaths climbing year after year, law enforcement and nonprofits alike are calling for community-wide action to save lives.
Over 2,000 Opioid Deaths in South Carolina in 2023
In 2023, South Carolina recorded more than 2,000 opioid-related overdose deaths, a statistic that health officials say represents only a fraction of the wider crisis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that overdose is now the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 44, placing it ahead of vehicle crashes, heart disease, and gun violence for this age group.
Charleston County is not immune to this devastating trend.
The Fentanyl Threat in Charleston County
Lt. Stephen Kudron of the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office warned that most drugs found in the region are now laced with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.
“It’s pretty much a safe bet that every substance contains some amount of fentanyl in it,” Kudron said. “So there’s a lot of fentanyl overdoses.”
In 2024 alone, Charleston County saw 173 confirmed fatal overdoses. As of now, in 2025, there have already been 54 confirmed and 38 suspected fatal overdoses, bringing the potential total to 92 deaths—and the year isn’t over yet.
Local Groups Offer Support and Solutions
Nonprofits like FAVOR Lowcountry (Faces and Voices of Recovery) are stepping up to help individuals struggling with addiction.
“It’s not one size fits all,” said Asa Langston, Executive Director of FAVOR Lowcountry. “We meet people where they’re at and help them in any way we can.”
FAVOR provides a wide range of recovery support services to meet each person’s unique needs—whether they are just starting recovery or have been clean for years.
Narcan Stands Help Save Lives
To directly fight the overdose epidemic, local agencies have introduced Narcan (Naloxone) stands throughout the county. Narcan is a life-saving nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in just two to three minutes.
These boxes are now being placed in businesses, hotels, and public spaces, with powerful results. One notable example was at the Econo Lodge on Ashley Phosphate Road, where 153 doses of Narcan were distributed in just one week. After that, local overdose incidents dropped dramatically—from over 150 to just 20 the following week.
“We saw an immediate impact,” Kudron explained. “It just shows how critical it is to make Narcan widely available.”
Businesses Encouraged to Get Involved
Charleston County is actively looking for more businesses to host Narcan stands. These stands could be the difference between life and death for someone overdosing nearby.
If you’re a business owner interested in participating, Lt. Kudron encourages you to reach out directly via email, which is listed on recent Charleston County social media posts.
Community Events and Awareness
To honour those lost and raise awareness, nonprofit WakeUp Carolina is hosting an Overdose Awareness Memorial in Mount Pleasant on Thursday. Events like these provide space for families, survivors, and advocates to come together, remember loved ones, and support the fight against addiction.
The opioid crisis is no longer just a public safety issue—it’s a public health emergency. With fentanyl-laced drugs flooding the streets and overdose deaths rising, Charleston County is ramping up efforts to protect its residents. From life-saving Narcan stations to on-the-ground outreach and recovery support, the community is coming together to make a difference. But the fight is far from over, and officials say the next step begins with awareness, action, and compassion.
