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Berkeley County Council Approves Opioid Funding for Local Organizations

by The Berkeley Observer

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – At its meeting on Monday, February 13, 2023, Berkeley County Council approved approximately $1.1 million in opioid funding to be distributed to local nonprofits and other organizations helping fight the opioid epidemic. The funding stems from a $26 billion National Opioids Settlement, from which funds are being distributed to state and political subdivisions. More information on the settlement can be found HERE.

South Carolina is set to receive $360 million from the settlement over the next 18 years. In response, the state has set up the S.C. Opioid Recovery Fund through which to distribute the funds. From the settlement, the County received an initial installment of $368,557 followed by a second installment of $722,646.20.

Berkeley County opened an application period throughout the month of January for interested organizations to apply for funding. The County also established a three-member committee to review applications and make funding recommendations to County Council, who approved the following recipients for funding:

  • Changed Lives Ministry ($187,695)                                               
  • Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center / Children in Crisis ($142,627)
  • Berkeley County Coroner’s Office ($100,000)
  • Fairhaven Home for Men, Inc. ($142,627)
  • Remnant House Outreach Ministry, Inc. ($233,000)
  • The Earnest E. Kennedy Center ($142,627)
  • Wake-Up Carolina ($142,627)

 The county is still awaiting approval by the state before distributing the funds.

Eligible applicants must work directly on the front lines of the opioid epidemic and/or assist in opioid addiction recovery or preventative services and utilize funding 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.

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