Many of us know and love someone who has experienced a drug overdose, and many of us have lost loved ones to an overdose.
In 2023, 2,157 people died in South Carolina from a drug overdose. Our state's overdose numbers have unfortunately increased dramatically since 2014. Of those 2,157 deaths in 2023, 1,704 were related to opioids and 1,550 involved fentanyl.
Naloxone is a medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that can stop an overdose from opioids such as fentanyl, heroin, morphine, and oxycodone from becoming deadly.
Naloxone temporarily blocks opioid receptor sites, reversing the toxic effects of the overdose. It should be administered when a patient shows signs of an opioid overdose. This lifesaving medication can be given as a nasal spray, intramuscularly (into the muscle), subcutaneous (under the skin), or as an intravenous injection.
Cornerstone is a designated "Community Distributor" of Narcan naloxone nasal spray. You can get Narcan at our offices in Greenwood, Edgefield, McCormick, or Abbeville.
A Community Distributor is a public or private organization that provides services to individuals who may be at risk for an opioid overdose. These organizations can be found across the state, and they maintain a supply of naloxone, which can reverse an overdose.
Naloxone only works in the body for 30 to 90 minutes, and it is possible for a person to still experience the effects of an overdose after naloxone wears off. Or, they might need multiple doses if a potent opioid is in their system. Therefore, it is critical to call 911 and obtain medical intervention as soon as possible after administering naloxone.
Naloxone is not effective in reversing overdoses caused by stimulants only. It is effective in reversing the effects of opioids that have been combined with stimulants or sedatives, with or without the knowledge of the user.
The Good Samaritan Law, S.C. Code Ann. § 15-1-310, protects any person, who in good faith gratuitously renders emergency care, from civil liability arising out of any act or omission by such person in rendering the emergency care or in failing to act or arrange for further medical treatment or care for the victim, except when the acts or omissions amount to gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
Similarly, the South Carolina Overdose Prevention Act, S.C. Code Ann. § 44-130-50, protects a caregiver who gives naloxone to a person whom the caregiver believes in good faith is experiencing an opioid overdose from civil or criminal liability.
