Funding to help Dorchester County fight the opioid crisis

DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Dorchester County leaders are preparing to implement additional methods to fight the opioid crisis.

It comes as hundreds of millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds head to the Palmetto State, to help people fight addiction and seek treatment.

The Dorchester Alcohol and Drug Commission is one of the 31 similar public agencies across South Carolina helping people with a variety of problems.

“Many of them are struggling with alcohol and drug issues, but we also see some that have other type issues because they go hand-in-hand with distress, domestic – we actually deal with domestic violence, we treat perpetrators of domestic violence – we deal with anger management,” said Sammy Miller, Exe. Director, Dorchester Alcohol and Drug Commission.

And in recent years, more and more people have had opioid addiction issues.

“Way back, they thought that opioids, OxyContin, was not addictive, and then we’ve realized it was addictive, so the federal government put in a lot of money to provide treatment,” he said.

While much of the treatment is funded, pharmaceutical companies have also reached a large settlement. About $380 million is coming into South Carolina which will soon be used to prevent opioid addiction in this area.

“The municipalities, the counties like Dorchester County, is getting 1.66% which will be about three and a half million dollars over 18 years to try to treat the problem,” said Miller.

How is this going to help you, or any friends or family members who are fighting opioid addiction issues?

“Before that more people were having to pay money out of their pockets. I believe in people paying something for their services here, but not to the point where they can’t afford it. So, this [will] really help soften the blow for some of the financial issues,” he said.

You can get treatment for any drug or alcohol problem you might be facing at the Dorchester Alcohol and Drug Commission. To learn more, click here.