Bamberg County offers free, confidential opioid recovery support to residents

Bamberg County residents who need opioid help can now start at Bamberg Specialty Services, 185 McGee Street in Bamberg, where the county says treatment is free, confidential and judgment-free for county residents. The program is meant to give people a local place to begin recovery without having to travel far or navigate a distant referral system.

The county said the service includes medication-assisted treatment, counseling, therapy, education and overdose-prevention support. It described the program as a path for individuals and families to take a first step toward recovery and healing, with follow-up questions directed to a phone number listed on the county notice.

The May 19 announcement built on a Feb. 6 grant award from the South Carolina Opioid Relief Fund. At that time, Bamberg County said the funding would support opioid abatement strategies aimed at saving lives, improving public health data and expanding access to treatment. The county said the work would begin in early 2026 and roll out in phases through the year.

That earlier plan identified two treatment locations: Padgett Family Practice at 526 North Street in Bamberg and Bamberg Specialty Services at 185 McGee Street. The county said Low Country Health Care System would be a key partner in delivering the services. Low Country Health Care System CEO Ashley Barnes said the partnership would help provide medical care, medications, therapy and resources, along with additional advocates to prevent substance abuse, educate the community and provide a safe place for families to get help.

The county’s opioid response also includes a public-safety piece. SCORF funding will pay for advanced toxicology equipment for the Bamberg County Coroner’s Office, allowing faster in-house testing, better cause-of-death reporting and quicker identification of emerging drug trends. County Coroner Shawn Hanks said the county had seen several opioid deaths and a growing rise in opioid-related deaths.

County leaders tied the effort to a broader community response. Mayor Corey Ramsey said the work would require both individuals and families, underscoring how addiction reaches beyond one person and affects households, workplaces and first responders across Bamberg, Denmark, Ehrhardt, Olar and Govan.

State guidance points in the same direction. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division says the state’s Opioid Emergency Response Plan centers on education and communication, prevention and response, treatment and recovery, and coordinated law enforcement strategies. The South Carolina Opioid Treatment Dashboard says county-level profiles are meant to help local leaders target abatement dollars and follow a medication-first model.

For Bamberg County, the shift is from announcement to access: a free local treatment option, a county coroner’s office with better testing tools and a public education campaign using billboards, radio spots and printed materials through schools and community partners.