As opioid overdoses steadily rise across the Nation, the Fairfield Opioid Response Team continues its fight towards reducing overdose deaths in Fairfield County.
On Wednesday, May 3, 2023, the Fairfield Opioid Response Team installed a Narcan Vending Machine in the intake room at the Fairfield County Detention Center. “With the opioid epidemic rising each year within our county I feel this is great for incarcerated individuals who are being released from jail to have a lifesaving medication in their hands. And it’s free” says Dion Artis, Captain at Fairfield County Detention Center.
This Narcan Vending Machine was purchased through a grant from the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund. It holds 54 Narcan which were received through the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) Jail Pilot Program. Coordinated by Fairfield Behavioral Health Services and DAODAS, SCDHEC also trained 17 officers at the Fairfield County Detention Center through their (LEON Training Program). The Narcan in this machine will be FREE for inmates to access upon their release. Inmates will be shown the Narcan Manufacturers Training Video prior to receiving their FREE Narcan. If an inmate does not receive their Narcan, they are able to pick up an Opioid Overdose Reversal Kit from Fairfield Behavioral Health Services.
The Need
According to the newly released Drug Overdose Report in 2021 by DHEC, the number of drug overdose deaths by opioids from 2017 -2021 have steadily increased:
• for prescription drugs from 782 in 2017 to 1853 in 2021(137%)
• for opioids from 748 in 2017 to 1733 in 2021 (132%)
• for fentanyl from 362 in 2017 to 1494 in 2021 (313%)
Since the Fairfield Opioid Response Team was established in late 2020, the Team has monitored various data including the number of opioid overdoses and deaths, as well as opioid/stimulant seizures and arrests:
• opioid overdoses increased from 79 in 2017 to 113 in 2022 (143%)
• opioid overdoses deaths increased from 2 in 2017 to 5 in 2022 (150%)
• opioid/stimulant arrests increased from 24 in 2021 to 122 in 2022 (409%)
• opioid/stimulant drug seizures increased from 179.5 pills (751.87 g) in 2021 to 599.5 pills (784.31 g) in 2022 (234%)
• opioid/stimulant drug seizures (Fentanyl) from 1 pill (1.3 g) in 2021 to 118 pills (152.38 g) in 2022 (117%)
• opioid/stimulant drug seizures (Methamphetamines) from 40 pills in 2021 to 357 pills in 2022 (790%)
Studies show people are at a higher risk of overdose upon release from incarceration due to a decrease in tolerance. According to Just Plain Killers, the percentage of inmates in Fairfield County who indicated opioid use during any screening rose from 6.3% in 2017 to 11.11% in 2021. “We certainly want to make sure we get Narcan into the hands of people who are at risk for experiencing an opioid overdose and it’s equally important for ALL of us to refer, bring and support people for treatment at our facility for an opioid addiction”, says Vernon Kennedy Sr., Executive Director, Fairfield Behavioral Health Services.”
If you or someone you know is at risk for an opioid overdose or struggling with an opioid addiction, please call Fairfield Behavioral Health Services for help at 803-635-2335 or email Samantha Carte, Prevention Assistant at scarte@fairfieldbhs.org.
