Drug overdose deaths in South Carolina rose by 52% in 2020, higher than the national average of 30%, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
The same CDC report found that the rise in deaths was primarily fueled by opioids. The latest figures are a continuation of the crisis that continues to plague the country.
U.S. Rep. Tom Rice spoke out about the issue on Twitter, where he said, “SC had the 4th highest increase in drug overdose deaths in 2020 – much higher than the national average. Horry County has the highest fatal drug overdoses in the state. This epidemic persists across the country, but is greatly affecting our friends, families, and neighbors.”
The CDC report outlines a true crisis in South Carolina as the opioid crisis once again gains national attention. The numbers in the report are alarming, showing that several people died each day in 2020 due to drug overdose.
South Carolina had 1,730 overdose deaths in 2020, the report shows. Across the country, 93,000 people died of overdoses, the highest number ever recorded.
With the 52% increase, the state ranks fourth among the states for the highest increase in fatal overdoses in 2020. The only states to have more dramatic spikes are Vermont (57.6%), West Virginia (55.6%) and Kentucky (53.7%).
South Carolina legislators continue to look to find ways to stem the flow of deaths by drug overdose.
