In response to the evolving addiction crisis impacting communities across the state, the S.C. Center of Excellence in Addiction was established in late 2022 by Clemson University, University of South Carolina, Medical University of South Carolina, The Office of Substance Use Services at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD) (formerly the S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services), and The S.C. Department of Public Health (formerly the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control).
To combine and more efficiently apply expertise and resources to address opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders, the Center of Excellence operates as one collaborative institution jointly owned and operated by the universities and state agencies.
The Center serves three main functions for South Carolina: opioid abatement support, provider capacity building, and innovation development.
In 2023, the Center received discretionary sub-funding from the S.C. Opioid Recovery Fund Board, as well as awards in subsequent years. This funding allows the Center of Excellence to provide supportive services to counties and municipalities implementing opioid abatement-funded activities.
These services include:
- Data analytics on treatment system capacity so that county and municipal leaders working on opioid abatement projects are equipped with information to make decisions for their communities.
- Technical assistance for county and municipal leaders and their partners so that they can more deeply understand how to implement approved abatement strategies.
Training for county and municipal leaders on what implementation of those strategies can look like in their communities.
The Center of Excellence offers resources to help South Carolina's providers with diagnosing and treating substance use disorders. Through our collaborative partnership, the Center of Excellence has access to emerging research, data, and strategies to help clinicians support their patients.
Provider capacity building includes:
- Delivering targeted trainings for clinicians and staff on things like the science of addiction, prescribing medications for substance use disorder, and other evidence-based addiction-related needs.
- A dedicated Clinician Warmline that South Carolina providers can call any time between 9 am - 5 pm, Monday through Friday, for free, confidential, peer-to-peer consults on any addiction-related clinical question.
- Maintaining a curated set of resources for providers to access evidence-based, clinical information.
The Center of Excellence is committed to helping South Carolina identify and implement innovative solutions to an evolving addiction crisis. By leveraging the expertise we have here in the state, the Center of Excellence has worked with professional partners and localities on implementing innovations like:
- Jail-based treatment to support our local jail administrators and sheriffs in managing opioid use disorder among our locally incarcerated populations.
- Diversion and deflection programs to help local public safety systems enhance their strategies to keep individuals out of incarceration settings and able to access community-based services.
Emergency Department-based treatment to build out South Carolina hospital capacity to begin treatment for opioid use disorder in emergency departments and effectively transition care to community providers.
- COE Experience and Background: A quick, top-line "resume" that provides descriptions of the strengths and experiences that our Leadership Team can leverage to help state agencies, policymakers, local leaders, and community partners.
- COE One-pager: Our one-pager provides top line information about who we are, how we help, and how we are administered.
- See our Frequently Asked Questions
