Drug Use in South Carolina
South Carolina has a population of 5,478,831 people. The most recent data from the 2023-2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that approximately 652,000 people over the age of 12 had used illegal substances in the past month, around 11.90% of the population. 568,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 873,000 in the past year.
The report also found that 73,000 South Carolina residents had used cocaine in the past year, 42,000 had used meth, and 124,000 had misused prescription pain medication. 7,000 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 137,000 people.
Alcohol Use in South Carolina
Alcohol misuse was also reported in South Carolina, with 2,247,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 1,093,000 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 2,137,000 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 number of substance use disorders in South Carolina and those who currently require treatment. The report found that approximately 810,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 476,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 97,000 people were recorded as having an OUD, including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based drug use disorders.
The NSDUH report also measures the gap between the people who need SUD treatment and those who actually receive it. It found that 899,000 people in South Carolina were classified as needing treatment in the past year, 171,000 received treatment for an SUD, and 726,000 did not receive the treatment they were classified as needing.
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 your area.
You can contact them by phone at: 803.896.5555
- Local Treatment Providers. (2025, June 19). South Carolina DAODAS. https://www.daodas.sc.gov/services/treatment/local-providers/
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- 2023-2024 NSDUH: Model-Based Estimated Totals for States (in Thousands). (2026, February 4). Samhsagov. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-2024-nsduh-estimated-totals-state
- Index of /programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2024/state/totals. (2020). Census.Gov. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2024/state/totals/
- CDC NCHS, Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts (2026). Cdc.Gov. https://data.cdc.gov/d/xkb8-kh2a