The South Carolina Department of Public Health is working hard to reduce opioid overdoses in the State by supporting the distribution of the lifesaving opioid antidote, Naloxone (Narcan®). Naloxone is distributed at each clinical health department, to schools, emergency departments and to community distributors. The public and respective entities supporting distribution can find information on where and how to obtain Naloxone below.
Pick up a free OD safety kit from a local health clinic so you are prepared to respond during an opioid overdose.
Each free kit includes:
- Naloxone, an easy-to-use nasal spray that can reverse opioid overdose
- Fentanyl test strips
- Educational materials on how to use both
- Guidance on how to identify an opioid overdose
Naloxone Distribution in Schools
- In 2023, the South Carolina Legislature passed House Bill 4122, which Governor McMaster signed into law, authorizing the Department of Public Health (DPH), in consultation with South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE), to create and update a list of lifesaving medications school nurses and trained staff are authorized to use in schools and provide guidelines for each medication.
- Through its partnership with the SCDE two boxes of Naloxone (Narcan®)(each containing two doses for a total of four doses per school) were made available for pickup to every K-12 school in South Carolina who wanted it. Funds for the supply were awarded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s cooperative agreement Overdose Data-to-Action. There was no cost to the schools for the Narcan.
Resources for Schools
- Toolkit and Training Guidelines to Support the Use of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors, Inhaled Albuterol, and Intranasal Naloxone in School Settings (pdf)
- DPH Naloxone School Administration Reporting
- DPH Naloxone School Restock Form
Contact
- For Schools: Victoria Ladd – laddvj@dph.sc.gov
- For Narcan: Julia Horan - horanjc@dph.sc.gov
Naloxone Distribution in Emergency Departments
Through a partnership with the SC Hospital Association, DPH is working to supply Naloxone to Emergency Departments (ED) statewide. Through an analysis of the South Carolina State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS)’s 2021 data, 71.4% of decedent’s had visited an ED or urgent care within one month prior to their death.
Resources for Hospitals
Contact
Julia Horan - horanjc@dph.sc.gov
Naloxone for Community Distributors
Community distributors, who have obtained a community distribution designation through the SC Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS), and lack a sustainable funding source, may qualify for Naloxone from DPH while supplies last.
Resources for Community Distributors
- Community Distribution Designation through DAODAS (pdf)
- DPH Naloxone Request for Community Distributors
- SC Naloxone Saturation Dashboard
Contact
Julia Horan - horanjc@dph.sc.gov