MORNING HEADLINES | The number of overdose deaths in the Palmetto State is in decline for years, but new illicit substances are on the rise, posing new threats, according to state officials.
In South Carolina, the number of overdose deaths decreased nearly 30% from April 2024 to April 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That was higher than the national average of about 24%. The trend began in 2023, breaking a decade-long rise in overdose deaths, according to the state Department of Public Health.
State officials say the exact reason for fewer deaths is unclear, but they point to the availability and public awareness of naloxone as one big reason. Health clinics and schools across the state have begun offering the medication for free in recent years, and the Department of Public Health offers free opioid overdose kits at its local health clinics…