In law enforcement, we are trained to look beyond a single data point and focus on patterns. Right now in Lexington County, an encouraging pattern is taking shape. Overdose deaths are trending downward. That matters. It reflects lives saved, families spared and a community beginning to turn the corner on one of the biggest public safety challenges we face.
But let me be clear: progress is not permission to ease up. It is proof that what we are doing together is working.
The data tells a story:
- 2020: 112 overdose deaths
- 2021: 106 overdose deaths
- 2022: 125 overdose deaths
- 2023: 107 overdose deaths
- 2024: 93 overdose deaths
- 2025: 75 overdose deaths
From a peak of 125 deaths in 2022 to 75 in 2025, Lexington County has seen a nearly 40 percent reduction in overdose deaths over three years. That is not accidental. That is the result of sustained, coordinated effort between a number of different organizations.
That effort is all about collaboration, particularly between law enforcement, EMS, the Lexington County Overdose Fatality Review Board and our community partners, such as LRADAC, the Courage Center and Uplift Lexington. Each brings a different capability to the table. Together, those capabilities create a more complete response.
Law enforcement works to disrupt supply and hold traffickers accountable. EMS provides immediate, life-saving intervention in overdose situations. LRADAC and the Courage Center connect individuals to treatment, recovery resources and long-term support. None of these efforts, standing alone, would produce the kind of outcomes we are now seeing.
Still, this moment calls for discipline, not complacency.
Here is what the data demands of us moving forward:
- Reducing access and availability of illicit substances must remain a priority through enforcement and prevention strategies
- Expanding access to tools such as Narcan continues to save lives and should remain widely promoted
- Sustained collaboration between agencies and organizations drives innovation and ensures we are meeting real community needs
There is no single solution to the overdose crisis. There never has been. What we are seeing now in Lexington County is the result of a layered strategy, executed consistently and collaboratively.
The takeaway is straightforward: when we work together, we make a difference.
The responsibility ahead is just as clear. Maintain the relationships. Invest in what works. Adapt where needed. And above all, remain committed to the shared goal of safer communities.
The progress is real. Now we have to keep it that way.
Sheriff Bryan “Jay” Koon was sworn in as the 39th sheriff of Lexington County in 2015. He is a graduate of Lexington High School, the University of South Carolina and the FBI’s National Academy. In 2023, Koon was named the sheriff of the year by the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association. He resides in Lexington with his wife, Kim, a long-time middle school teacher.