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The chief forensic chemist for the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office has filed a report that says fentanyl appears in almost all overdose cases. In fact, it’s often mixed into drugs without anyone knowing. His county lost 115 people to drug overdoses in 2024. Let’s be clear. South Carolina features many programs to battle addictions, including …
Fentanyl in Nearly Every Spartanburg Overdose Case, SC Chemist Says
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The chief forensic chemist for the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office has filed a report that says fentanyl appears in almost all overdose cases. In fact, it’s often mixed into drugs without anyone knowing. His county lost 115 people to drug overdoses in 2024.
Let’s be clear. South Carolina features many programs to battle addictions, including local Narcotics Anonymous chapters. But fentanyl is embedded itself in the drug supply in Spartanburg and an overdose can easily happen to anyone.
The Opioid Crisis in South Carolina
Jacob Jackson is the county’s chief chemist and relayed how overdose cases are “almost always in tandem with fentanyl.” His observations mirror the county’s death toll.
The Spartanburg County Coroner reported 191 drug overdose deaths in 2023 with a majority tied to fentanyl. Indeed, statewide, fentanyl was involved in 914 of South Carolina’s 1,481 drug overdose deaths that year.
The county has seen swings before. It investigated almost 100 fentanyl cases in 2020, a number that tripled by 2021.
Fentanyl Hides in Other Drugs
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid manufactured for medical use and for the illicit drug supply. A fentanyl overdose happens when the drug suppresses breathing and risk rises when fentanyl is mixed into an unknown substance.
Fentanyl powder can adhere to other pills, methamphetamine and cocaine. A bag of stimulants or a counterfeit prescription pill can carry fentanyl with no visible sign. A person who believes they’re taking a familiar substance has no idea an opioid is present.
In fact, that pattern fits national research. A hospital study found that among 833 patients with confirmed fentanyl exposure between 2020 and 2023, para-fluorofentanyl turned up in 139, or 16.7%. Synthetic opioid-related deaths tripled nationally between 2016 and 2022.
Harm Reduction and Treatment in Spartanburg
Accordingly, the county has built its response. A medication-assisted treatment and re-entry program launched at the county detention center in October 2024 has provided life-saving medications to more than 700 individuals.
In addition, the South Carolina Department of Public Health distributes free Opioid Overdose Safety Kits containing two doses of naloxone, fentanyl and xylazine test strips and overdose-response guidance. Residents can contact their local health department to check availability.
Battling Addiction Through NA
Narcotic addiction remains treatable. Free peer support can lead the way. NA meetings in Spartanburg and all throughout the country offer no-cost, anonymous support from people who understand opioid addiction firsthand.
Get started with NA with our searchable directory. We feature meetings for all 50 states, filtered by location and format.
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