DPH: Jasper County has state’s highest overdose death rates. Here’s what’s being done

Jasper County has the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in South Carolina, according to a report from the Department of Public Health. County officials said this could be because of the way data is tracked.

Jasper’s total drug overdose rate, which includes all drugs, was 118.6 with 34 overdoses in 2023. The next highest was in Dillon County with a rate of 81.1 and 19 overdoses.

The report released earlier this year, using data gathered in 2023, found that Jasper is one of the few counties that also saw increases in drug overdose deaths in South Carolina in 2023, while the majority of counties saw rates going down. Rates are calculated with consideration of the county's population size.

Jasper County started reporting its own data on drug use and overdoses in 2024. The county was one of two in South Carolina to do this at the time. Most counties use an automated system that tracks EMS reports, according to Nicole Smith, Community Coordinator for New Life Center.

“That is probably why our numbers are, you know, higher because they’re more accurate,” Smith said.

There are five other counties doing their own reporting now: Jasper, Horry, Lancaster and Hampton which is just starting. All except for Hampton have rates above 50.

The county is taking steps towards increasing its addiction treatment efforts. Jasper County Council last week unanimously passed a motion to apply for $62,000 in funding from its designated opioid relief fund for its New Life Center addiction treatment facility. The center has a location in Ridgeland plus facilities in Hampton and Allendale counties.

Tracking drug overdoses in South Carolina

South Carolina tracks overdoses using technology called OD-Map, which tracks incidents in real-time, geographically. The map is not available to the public but only to first-responders and municipalities for privacy reasons.

The OD map also sets up spike alerts, so when there is an increase in overdoses in a single area, there are signs that a drug supply might have been spiked with deadly fentanyl or xyzalazine. That way, first responders can immediately get involved and hand out opioid reversal medications, like Naloxone.

“Horry County, a while back, had a spike alert, and one of our coworkers sent it out to community stakeholders, and then the fire department went out and handed out Naloxone in that specific area,” said Julia Horan, substance use prevention unit director at the Department of Health.

The implementation of the OD-map has been a big help in addressing the drug problem all around South Carolina, Jasper County Council Chairman John Kemp said.

“Really having the public understand there is a problem is a big way of helping the problem getting solved,” Kemp said.

New Life Center and addressing the problem

The New Life Center is the county authority for alcohol and drug abuse in Jasper, Hampton and Allendale.

The organization, serving its function since 1973, operates as an independent agency but on state and federal funding for substance abuse programs.

Last week at a Jasper County Council meeting, there was a motion to request $62,000 to cover year two of a new contract with the center that includes goals for the organization in areas like education and outreach.

Part of the presentation included a media campaign. Heather Rath, a consultant who presented in the meeting, said this is a big part of improving education on addiction resources because Jasper is the fastest growing county in the state. Many new residents may not know about the resources.

The New Life Center sees individuals struggling with substance abuse Monday through Friday, Smith said, for both inpatient and outpatient treatment. They also work on the prevention side with community outreach and advocacy, including in schools, with law enforcement and through events.

Mental health awareness and education on the topic are some of Kemp’s the biggest goals.

“You have to go back to the basics of how do you stop addiction,” Kemp said. “And then, but on top of that, it goes back to mental health.”

Collaboration with mental health officials is part of the second-year contract presented to council last week.

The county also has prescription drug drop boxes for individuals to dispose of unwanted medication and remove it from their homes. Free Narcan vending machines also to distribute the narcotic overdose reversing treatment to the public.

This vending machine is located in the Jasper County detention center and anyone can access it. The center also distributes Narcan at its facility, no questions asked and free of charge.

They also work with individuals charged with substance related crimes in drug court.

The biggest challenge for the New Life Center right now is finding community members in Jasper County to help with their cause.

“Jasper County does a good job of supporting each other as far as partner agencies,” Smith said. “We would love to have more average folks in the community that have been impacted by overdose, or want to make a difference in their community. We would love to have those people at the table, and that has been a struggle.”

The New Life Center is located at 651 Grays Hwy in Ridgeland, SC, open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.