Unless you have an addict in your famiy, you probably can't imagine its nightmare.
The Christmas holidays tend to make it worse.
Almost 40% of opioid and stimulant overdose deaths occur while someone is present, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
As our state enters a season marked by increased overdoses, the SC Opioid Emergency Response Team advises families to keep opioid antidotes on hand for those who might be struggling with abuse.
Naloxone administered in time can reverse the effects of overdose from prescription opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine.
It is also effective against heroin and fentanyl. 
It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration and presents no harm when administered to someone not experiencing an opioid overdose. 
It also has no psychoactive effects.
More than $2.7 million in naloxone is available in the state, said Sara Goldsby, Director of the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services.
Narcan®, the nasal spray version of naloxone, is available through pharmacies without a prescription. Medicaid and other insurance also cover the cost. 
A number of community organizations make Narcan® freely available, and a list of these community distributors is available at justplainkillers.com/overdose-prevention.
From 2018 to 2019, the number of opioid overdose deaths in SC rose by 7%, from 816 to 876. 
All drug overdoses rose 3% across the state, from 1,103 to 1,131. 
A map-based, county-level data dashboard with 2019 overdose information is located at www.justplainkillers.com/data.