Drug abuse in South Carolina
South Carolina has a population of 5,190,705 people. The most recent data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 673,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 12.97% of the population. 584,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 849,000 in the past year. The report also found that 130,000 South Carolina residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 111,000 had abused meth, and 180,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 63,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in South Carolina totaled 187,000 people.
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Alcohol abuse in South Carolina
Alcohol misuse was also reported in South Carolina with 2,287,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 1,152,000 reporting binge drinking. The perceived risk of people over 12 years of age indulging in problematic alcohol use (5 or more drinks twice a week) in a month was 2,101,000 people.
Overdose deaths in South Carolina
In 2021, South Carolina saw a total of 2064 recorded drug-related overdose deaths. This includes those that were accidental or unidentifiable but excludes those that were related to suicide or homicide. people per 100,000. The total number of alcohol-related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 1006 or 19.3 per 100,000 people.
Addiction treatment in South Carolina
The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in South Carolina and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 773,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 506,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 144,000 people were recorded as having an opioid use disorder including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based drug use disorders. There are also many who have been diagnosed with or reported a substance, illicit drug, or alcohol use disorder that require rehab treatment and are not receiving it. The report found that 359,000 people in South Carolina needed treatment for illicit substance abuse, 492,000 required treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and 676,000 needed treatment for a diagnosed substance use disorder.
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How do I pay for rehab?
Many people want to seek addiction treatment, but they can’t afford to pay for rehab costs. Rehab prices vary because of location, your needed services, and the length of your addiction treatment.
If you can’t pay out of pocket for the treatment, you should get either public or private insurance to help cover some of the rehab costs. Public insurance plans like Medicare and Medicaid are available in South Carolina.
There are also state-funded treatment facilities that offer free or no-cost care to individuals who need the care but are unable to pay in full.
Local government assistance
The South Carolina Department of Alcohol and other drug abuse services is working to help the over 400,000 people in South Carolina dealing with substance-related problems.
They have mental health and addiction counselors who will listen and provide the necessary resources and services. You can also get information about recovery and support groups in the area near you.
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You can contact them on their phone: 803.896.5555
- Ross, J. EMSEC LL. (n.d.). Sites.google.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from https://sites.google.com/view/emsec/home?authuser=0C