Understanding the Growing Addiction Crisis in Myrtle Beach | Myrtle Beach Recovery

Understanding the Growing Addiction Crisis in Myrtle Beach

Addiction in Myrtle Beach and Horry County is a worrying problem, especially when it comes to opioids and fentanyl. Opioid‐related overdose deaths in Horry County have risen sharply in recent years, thanks to many factors, with local health data showing fentanyl is now a significant reason for addiction fatalities. This blog will go over the numbers, the trends, the local impacts, and where to turn when you need help. Read our blog on why Myrtle Beach is a great place to recover for more information on local resources.

If you or a loved one could benefit from 12 Steps to Recovery, contact Myrtle Beach Recovery to learn about our comfortable residential setting.    

What Do the Numbers Tell Us About Addiction in Horry County?

  • In 2019, Horry County saw 131 opioid‐related overdose deaths. 
  • In one study focusing on rural areas, overdose deaths from 2019 to 2020 increased by 72.4%.
  • Statewide, South Carolina reported 2,157 drug overdose deaths in 2023, down slightly from 2022’s 2,296. 

What Trends Are We Seeing Near Myrtle Beach?

  • Horry County is one of the top counties in South Carolina for opioid deaths, hospitalizations, and Narcan administrations. 
  • The rise in synthetic opioids (especially fentanyl) is making overdoses far more lethal, even when people use “small” or previously tolerated amounts. 
  • Overdose incidents are not only causing fatalities but also straining local healthcare resources, EMS, law enforcement, and social services. 

Who Is Impacted By Addiction & How?

  • In 2019, Horry County, South Carolina, led the state in the number of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).
  • Addiction affects everyone, but younger adults, those exposed early to substances, and people with less access to mental health and recovery services are especially vulnerable. 
  • Economic and social ripple effects are severe. From job loss to family instability, increased crime, overdoses, and community health burdens, it all adds up. 

What Are the Main Challenges in Horry County?

  • Fentanyl’s potency and its frequent mixing with other drugs make the risk of accidental overdose much higher. 
  • The gaps in treatment availability are a large issue. Local assessments (Horry and Georgetown Counties Opioid Study (2018)) have identified shortages in prevention, early intervention, and treatment services in Horry County and its surrounding areas. 
  • Delays in data, lack of awareness, stigma, and limited distribution of life‐saving tools (like naloxone) make it harder to respond quickly, leading to more fatalities. 

How Can Local Communities Help?

  • Short‐term rehab programs can offer urgent stabilization, medical oversight, and in some cases withdrawal management. That allows people to get through dangerous periods safely.
  • Giving access to naloxone, overdose education, and community outreach to reduce fatal overdose risks.
  • Integrating mental health services and social support with substance use disorder treatment to address root causes (trauma, co‐occurring disorders, poverty, etc.).
  • Being advocates for better policy, state and local funding for addiction services, more prevention programs in schools, and for monitoring systems that track overdose and treatment data in real time.

Get Help for Addiction in Myrtle Beach 

If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use in Myrtle Beach or Horry County, help is available. Myrtle Beach Recovery offers a peer driven short term sober living program and community resources. Contact Myrtle Beach Recovery today to learn how we can help you or your family take the next step toward safety and recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the number of overdoses gone down recently in Myrtle Beach / Horry County?

Statewide in South Carolina, there was a modest decrease in drug overdose deaths from 2022 to 2023. But locally, in Horry County, opioid and fentanyl‐related deaths remain very high, and trends indicate increasing danger, especially from synthetic opioids. 

What drives the surge in fentanyl deaths?

Fentanyl is very potent, often mixed unknowingly into other drugs, and even small amounts can be fatal. It has become a large part of the many recent overdose deaths in South Carolina, including Horry County. 

What can individuals or families do now to reduce risk to their loved ones?

Get naloxone and learn how to use it. Seek help early and don’t wait for a crisis to occur. Join your local support groups. Look into rehab programs, even if short-term. Push for engagement with community resources. 

DISCLAIMER

Myrtle Beach Recovery provides housing for individuals in recovery. We DO NOT provide medical or clinical help. We DO NOT supervise or accept any duty of care for residents in our houses. The houses are peer-driven, and we DO NOT have any paid staff living at the residences.

To be clear, individuals in early recovery presenting as suicidal or needing supervision ARE NOT a fit for our residences. Each resident and family members accept full responsibility and knowingly assumes all responsibilities for their well-being.

Each resident and all family members release Sanctuary Recovery Foundation, Sanctuary Recovery Centers, Myrtle Beach Recovery, and all its owners, staff, and volunteers from all liability.

We have simple guidelines/suggestions. We ARE not a treatment center.

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