Berkeley County Council approves opioid recovery funding for local organizations

At its meeting on Monday, September 23, 2024, Berkeley County Council approved approximately $1.2 million in opioid recovery funding to be distributed to local organizations and agencies helping fight the opioid epidemic here at home.

Funding stems from a $26 billion national opioid settlement from manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies involved in the opioid process. South Carolina is set to receive its settlement share of more than $360 million over the next 18 years. In response, the state set up the S.C. Opioid Recovery Fund through which to distribute the funds.

Berkeley County Council approved the following recipients for funding:

• Berkeley County Solicitor’s Office: $24,025
• Changed Lives Ministry: $74,990
• Favor Lowcountry: $86,647.95
• Wake Up Carolina: $144,073
• Ernest E. Kennedy Center: $151,570
• Fair Haven Home for Men: $174,447
• Berkeley County Coroner’s Office: $175,000
• Remnant House Outreach Ministry: $220,000

Funding must be used for one or more of the following approved opioid remediation uses:

• Naloxone or Other FDA-Approved Drug to Reverse Opioid Overdoses;
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Distribution and Other Opioid-Related Treatment;
• Pregnant and Postpartum Women;
• Expanding Treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS);
• Expansion of Warm Handoff Programs and Recovery Services;
• Treatment for Incarcerated Population;
• Prevention Programs;
• Expanding Syringe Service Programs; and
• Evidence-Based Data Collection and Research Analyzing the Effectiveness of the Abatement Strategies within the State.