South-Carolina
South Carolina sees second straight year of declining overdose deaths
LEXINGTON, S.C. (WCSC) — South Carolina recorded a significant decline in drug overdose deaths in 2024, marking the second consecutive year fatalities have decreased and the first back-to-back annual decline in more than a decade, according to newly released data from the South Carolina Department of Public Health.
State health officials reported just under 1,500 overdose deaths in 2024, a 31% decrease from 2023. The reduction represents nearly 500 lives saved compared with the previous year and is being credited to expanded access to overdose-reversal medications, increased public awareness and broader prevention efforts across the state.
“Even one is too many,” Dr. Brannon Traxler, acting director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health, said. “Almost 500 — that’s almost 500 people’s loved ones that are alive that might not have been, and so that is a big deal.”
Charleston, Greenville and Horry counties recorded the highest numbers of overdose deaths in 2024, followed by Richland and Lexington counties. Statewide, adults ages 35 to 44 were the age group most affected by fatal overdoses.
Meanwhile, Jasper, Georgetown and Spartanburg counties saw some of the largest declines in overdose deaths compared with the previous year.
Health leaders say expanded availability of naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, has played a key role in reducing fatalities. The medication can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and has become more widely available through public health agencies, community organizations and harm-reduction programs.
Amber Frazier, who works with The Courage Center and has experienced the impact of substance use disorder firsthand, said overdoses continue to affect families across South Carolina.
“At first, when you hear about it, it’s kind of like, ‘Is this real?’ and then reality hits you,” Frazier said, reflecting on the loss of loved ones to addiction.
Officials and recovery advocates say the decline also reflects increased education efforts and a growing willingness among people struggling with addiction to seek treatment.
“Really trying to continue to decrease the stigma around it, truly recognizing it is a disease,” Traxler said. “Just like we want to make treatment available for diabetics, we want to make treatment available for this.”
Marc Burrows, executive director of Challengers Inc. of South Carolina, said continued investment in harm-reduction strategies will be needed to sustain the progress.
“We need to keep pushing, keep distributing naloxone, keep focusing on harm-reduction interventions and continue to get these services to the people that need them,” Burrows said.
Despite the encouraging trend, health officials emphasized that the overdose crisis remains a serious public health challenge and that every overdose death represents a family and community affected by loss.
Frazier urged South Carolinians to remember the humanity of those struggling with addiction.
“Just remember that next time you see someone, that is someone’s mother, daughter, father, brother, sister or cousin,” she said. “That is another human being.”
The Department of Public Health continues to offer free overdose safety kits through local health departments across South Carolina, with no questions asked. Officials encourage anyone struggling with substance use disorder or concerned about a loved one to seek help and learn how to recognize and respond to an overdose.
Copyright 2026 WCSC. All rights reserved.
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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WBTV) – South Carolina voters returned to election polls on Tuesday as they decided who will replace former U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on the November ballot.
On Tuesday, Aug. 11, voters across South Carolina voted for one of the 10 Republican nominees to replace the longtime Senator on the November ballot. Polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day on Tuesday. Those in line to vote at 7 p.m. are still allowed to cast their ballots.
WBTV will track the results for the special Senate primary election as they are reported. Click here to see real-time election results after polls close.
The special Senate primary election follows the sudden death of Sen. Graham who died on July 11. It is believed that Graham likely died after aorta tear after 23 years in office.
In South Carolina, a candidate must receive 50% plus one vote to avoid a runoff. If no one acquires that majority, the top two vote-getters advance to a head-to-head runoff race. If necessary, a runoff will be held on Aug. 25.
Below are the 10 Republican nominees looking to replace Graham on the ballot.
- Greenville businessman Mark Lynch
- South Carolina farmer and business owner Danny Ford II
- Darline Graham
- Former Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride
- U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman
- Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford
- Attorney Duke Buckner
- U.S. Rep. Russell Fry
- Retired Air Force Reserve Major Glenda Gail Parker
- Biomedical engineer and businessman Samuel Shepherd
Voter guide: 2026 Special Republican Primary
The U.S. Senate special Republican primary election will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Eligible voters will help narrow the field of candidates ahead of the general midterm election on Nov. 3, 2026. The Republican nominee will run against Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Annie Andrews.
🗳️ What is a special election?
A special election is typically held to replace an official who has died, resigned or been removed from office.
South Carolina’s last U.S. Senate special election was in 2014, when Tim Scott took office.
Anyone who meets the U.S. Constitution’s requirements and South Carolina’s requirements can run for the U.S. Senate special election.
🗳️ Who can vote?
Any registered voter who voted in the June Republican primary — or did not vote in either party’s primary — can vote in the special election.
Anyone who voted in the June Democratic primary cannot vote in the special election.
The deadline to register to vote in the special election was July 12.
Voters can verify their registration status and view a sample ballot on the South Carolina Election Commission website.
🗳️ Voting in-person
Voters in South Carolina are required to show a valid photo ID before they cast their ballot.
Valid IDs include the following:
- South Carolina driver’s license
- South Carolina DMV ID card
- South Carolina voter registration card with photo
- Federal military ID
- United States passport
For more information on photo ID requirements in South Carolina, plus answers to some questions, click here.
🗳️ Find your polling place
For many voters, polling places will look different because of the special election’s quick timeframe.
To find out where you can vote, click here. You will need to fill in your county name, full name, birth date, and the last four digits of your social security number.
Copyright 2026 WBTV. All rights reserved.
SOUTH CAROLINA (WBTV) – The special Republican primary in South Carolina is set for Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Polls opened at 7 a.m., and will stay open until 7 p.m.
The special primary is being held after Sen. Lindsey Graham died suddenly on July 11, just one month after he won the Republican Party’s primary in his bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate.
Prior to his death, Graham was slated to run against Dr. Annie Andrews (D) to keep his Senate seat. Now following his passing, the special primary will determine Andrews’ opponent in the general election this fall.
Graham’s sister — Darline Graham Nordone — was appointed to fill the remainder of his current term, and will be on the special primary ballot as she seeks a full Senate term. She is going by Darline Graham in the Senate.
In addition to Darline Graham, nine other Republicans are on the ballot for the special primary. They are listed below:
- Duke Buckner
- Danny Ford II
- Russell Fry
- Mark Lynch
- Mark McBride
- Ralph Norman
- Glenda Gail Parker
- Mark Sanford
- Sam Shepherd
If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in the Aug. 11 special primary, then a runoff would happen on Tuesday, Aug. 25. If a runoff were to happen, early voting would be scheduled for Aug. 19-21.
Where to vote
Unlike during the early voting period where voters could cast a ballot at any voting location in the county they are registered, voters can only vote at their designated precinct on Tuesday.
Voters can click here to find their precinct.
Who is eligible to vote
While South Carolina is an open primary state, voters who cast a ballot in June’s Democratic primary will not be able to vote in the August special primary.
Voters who cast a ballot in the June Republican primary are eligible for the August special primary, as are people who did not vote in either party’s primary back in June.
Photo ID requirements
South Carolina is one of many states that requires voters to show a valid photo ID before casting a vote.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
- SC driver’s license
- SC Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card
- SC voter registration card with photo
- Federal military ID
- US passport (includes passport ID card)
More information on photo ID requirements in South Carolina can be found here.
Click here for more election coverage
Watch continuous news coverage here:
Copyright 2026 WBTV. All rights reserved.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and Graham’s sister, Sen. Darlene Graham, gathered Monday for the official unveiling of Joint Base Lindsey Graham, honoring the late South Carolina senator and his decades of military service.
During the ceremony, McMaster said naming important places after people gives future generations an opportunity to learn about their lives and accomplishments.
He described Graham as someone who served South Carolina and the country in multiple capacities — in uniform, in Congress and as a public servant.
“Lindsey served it in all three,” McMaster said, referring to Graham’s service in a suit, a military uniform and civilian clothes.
Hegseth highlighted Graham’s longtime support for the U.S. military, saying the senator dedicated his life to serving South Carolina and the armed forces.
Graham served in both the U.S. House and Senate while continuing his military career. Hegseth said Graham understood the importance of maintaining a strong military as a means of protecting the country.
READ MORE | Joint Base Charleston renamed in honor of late Sen. Lindsey Graham at Monday ceremony
Hegseth also pointed to Graham’s support for increased military spending, saying the senator had backed a proposed $1.5 trillion investment in the nation’s military. He recalled a conversation with Graham shortly before his death about funding for the military.
Hegseth said the renaming will allow Graham’s name to travel with Air Force personnel stationed around the world.
“Those gray tails that say Charleston, now when they land in far-flung places will say Graham,” Hegseth said.
Darlene Graham spoke about her brother’s connection to the Air Force, saying his interest in national security and foreign affairs began with his military service.
She said Lindsey Graham initially wanted to become a pilot and earned his pilot’s license in high school, but hearing problems in one ear led him to pursue a career in law instead.
READ MORE | Hundreds honor Sen. Lindsey Graham, remembering a life of service, faith and dedication
Graham later served in the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, where his experience in divided Germany shaped his views on communism.
He left active duty in 1989 and joined the South Carolina Air National Guard. He was activated during the Gulf War and later joined the Air Force Reserve after being elected to Congress.
As a senator, Graham continued serving in the military and completed reserve duty in Charleston in 2003.
He eventually deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, becoming the first member of Congress in decades to serve in an active war zone, according to his sister.
Graham retired as a colonel from the Air Force Reserve in 2015 after 33 years of military service.
Darlene Graham said her brother’s commitment to both the Senate and Air Force was so strong that it could sometimes be difficult to tell whether he was a senator who served in the Air Force or an Air Force lawyer who served in the Senate.
“That’s the man this base is named after,” she said.
The ceremony marked the formal unveiling of the new name, placing Graham’s legacy directly on the Lowcountry military installation where he once completed reserve duty.
Hegseth closed his remarks by welcoming attendees to Joint Base Lindsey Graham and saying the responsibility now falls to those serving today to continue the senator’s work supporting the military.
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