South Carolina Governor’s Summit on Addiction Highlights Statewide Progress and Collaboration

Summit expands focus beyond opioids to address the full spectrum of addiction and recovery

The South Carolina Governor’s Summit on Addiction brought together nearly 700 leaders, advocates, healthcare providers, law enforcement professionals and faith organizations last week to collaborate on statewide progress in prevention, treatment and recovery.

For the first time, the Governor’s Summit expanded its focus beyond opioids to address the broader challenges of addiction, reflecting South Carolina’s evolving response to substance use across all categories, including alcohol, stimulants and emerging synthetic drugs. The expanded lens encouraged more inclusive dialogue, collaboration and innovation in prevention, treatment, recovery and policy.

The Summit featured the annual Governor’s Awards, which recognizes individuals making significant contributions to South Carolina’s response to addiction. This year’s recipients include:

• Gerald Wilson, MD, for championing the science of addition medicine by treating the disease of addiction medically and serving vulnerable citizens of South Carolina.
• Asa Wilson, a recovery advocate who demonstrates leadership in promoting wellness and recovery supports for people with substance use challenges.
• SLED Narcotics Interdiction Unit, for their efforts to reduce the availability of illegal drugs in our communities.

Summit attendees heard from state leaders, researchers and community organizations who shared strategies and programs improving access to care, reducing substance use and supporting long-term recovery across South Carolina. Speakers highlighted declining overdose trends and underscored the importance of continued collaboration among agencies, providers and local partners.

“South Carolina makes real progress when partners in every corner of the state are working together,” said Sara Goldsby, director of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities’ Office of Substance Use Services. “The Governor’s Summit shows what can happen when community leaders, providers and people with lived experience come together with a shared commitment to saving lives.”

Breakout sessions and panels explored topics such as resource coordination through the SC Center of Excellence in Addiction, community prevention initiatives and lived-experience insights from people in recovery. Participants also connected with exhibitors offering tools and programs that strengthen prevention, treatment and recovery efforts statewide.

For more information about statewide addiction services and resources, visit bhdd.sc.gov/office-substance-use-services.