Overdose deaths are falling in Lexington County. Here’s what to know

Lexington County has seen a 40% drop in overdose deaths since 2022, the sheriff’s department reports. Officials credit a coordinated effort among law enforcement, medical services and community groups for the decline.

FULL STORY: Overdose deaths in Lexington County are dropping, sheriff says. What we know

Here are key takeaways:

• Overdose deaths peaked in 2022, when at least 125 people died in Lexington County. By 2025, that number fell to 75, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
• Sheriff Jay Koon said the decline reflects collaboration among law enforcement, emergency medical services and community intervention groups. “You can’t police your way out of it,” he told The State. “Everybody has to work together.”
• Deputies carry Narcan, also known as naloxone, to reverse overdoses. The sheriff’s department also works to disrupt drug supply and hold traffickers accountable.
• South Carolina ranked among 16 states with the most opioid overdose deaths per capita in 2024, at about 20.1 deaths per 100,000 people, according to a KFF analysis of CDC data. The state is now among the top 10 for biggest reductions in opioid deaths.
• Koon credited partners including the Courage Center, Uplift Lexington and the Lexington/Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council for connecting people to treatment and recovery resources.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.