NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Tri-County area experienced a significant increase in overdoses over the weekend, prompting a response from local law enforcement, medical professionals, and nonprofit organizations.
The Charleston County Coroner’s Office is investigating five suspected fatal overdoses, while Dorchester County Coroner’s Office is looking into two deaths. The North Charleston Police Department also reported an increase in non-fatal overdoses in the region.
Overdose Surge Sparks Urgent Action
Since Thursday, May 7th, the Charleston Coroner’s Office has been investigating five suspected fatal overdoses, and Dorchester County reported two more fatalities over the weekend. In response to this spike, law enforcement, medical professionals, and outreach organizations are ramping up efforts to address the crisis, including distributing overdose-reversal medication like Narcan to high-risk areas.
“We set our spike alerts to five overdoses in a 24-hour period, so when that 5th happened, we all were alerted,” said Shelby Joffrion, opioid prevention coordinator for the North Charleston Police Department. This led to coordinated outreach efforts by various agencies to connect with overdose victims and offer assistance for those seeking recovery.
Outreach and Distribution of Narcan
Organizations such as WakeUp Carolina and local EMS agencies have joined forces with law enforcement and emergency departments to conduct “post-overdose outreach.” The goal is to contact overdose victims and offer support for recovery.
Additionally, Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, is being distributed in high-risk areas where overdoses have been reported.
“We do outreach in high-risk areas where overdoses have occurred, so today we were able to saturate that area with Narcan,” said Lani Jumper, Charleston County outreach and overdose prevention director for WakeUp Carolina.
Recognizing Overdose Signs and Administering Narcan
Medical professionals are encouraging the public to recognize the signs of an overdose and act quickly. Dr. Larissa Mooney, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Addiction Sciences Division with MUSC, explained that signs of an overdose include severe sleepiness and difficulty waking the person. In such cases, administering naloxone (Narcan) can reverse the effects rapidly.
Investigators are still working to determine the exact causes of the deaths, with toxicology testing underway. Officials noted that many overdose deaths in recent years have involved multiple substances, with fentanyl often being one of them. “Of unintentional drug-related deaths, 60% of them are due to mixed drug toxicity,” Jumper added.
Decrease in Overdose Numbers Despite Recent Spike
Although overdose numbers surged over the weekend, North Charleston police officials noted that overall overdose incidents have declined in the past two years. They also highlighted that Narcan has been administered by bystanders in several recent cases, potentially saving lives.
“Narcan is a lifesaver in these instances. It did save lives,” said Joffrion. “I think in 2024, I had 37 incidences where Narcan was given by a bystander. That’s your everyday Joe, and you just saved a life.”
