By Todd Atwater, special to Statehouse Report | Addiction is in Lexington County.
It’s in our churches, our families, our communities. Because it is everywhere, it requires all of us to be part of the solution.
I was pleased to see the progress my former colleagues in the S.C. House of Representatives made during this legislation session highlighted in the recent Statehouse Report article Lawmakers have more work to do to rein in opioid crisis.
But I also agree more work needs to be done as we continue to see “hot spots” of high substance misuse across Lexington. When I served as a representative, I was proud to be a member of the House Select Committee on Opioid Addiction. During my tenure, we increased funding to prevent substance abuse, made it easier to reclassify controlled substances to prevent misuse and unlawful sale of opioids, and expanded access to addiction counselors.
As former CEO of the S.C. Medical Association, I worked alongside health care providers to ensure the state’s health care system was equipped to tackle the growing number of alcohol and drug misuse cases in our state. We worked to ensure lifesaving treatment was readily available to those who needed help.
My professional experiences taught me that addiction is not a moral failing, rather substance use disorder is a preventable, treatable brain disease.
But it has been my personal experience that has taught me the most about addiction. Substance use disorders have affected many families, including mine. Raised in a household with an alcoholic stepfather, I saw first-hand the long-term negative effects on the entire family due to his alcohol addiction. Last year, I lost my nephew to a fentanyl-laced marijuana overdose. As our family grieves and continues to mourn his loss, I’m continuing to work to spare other families.
Having served as a longtime member of The Courage Center (TCC) board of directors, I have seen the necessary support provided by an organization that is working hard to destigmatize seeking help for substance misuse. TCC is a safe, non-judgmental space for those seeking support in the Lexington community. TCC staff and committed volunteers support members of our community in their recovery journeys and we believe in each individual’s potential for recovery.
Community is only as strong as each of us. Join me and recovery community allies as we work together to end the stigma of addiction and continue to bring healing and recovery to Lexington County. To learn more about the Courage Over Stigma campaign and how you can help be an ally for recovery, visit couragecentersc.org.
Todd Atwater is a former TCC board member, serving most recently as vice chair. He also has served as a member of the S.C. House of Representatives and is a lifelong Lexington County resident. Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com.
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