Greenville Co. Sheriff’s Office Holds Vigil for Fentanyl Overdose Victims

In an emotional evening, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office held its second annual candlelight vigil on Wednesday to honor the lives tragically lost to fentanyl overdoses. The event underscored the ongoing work of the department to address the opioid crisis in their community and offered support to grieving families.

The Devastating Toll of Fentanyl Overdoses

As reported by the coroner’s office, Greenville County lost 143 citizens to fentanyl-related overdoses in 2023 alone, illustrating the severity of the ongoing drug crisis. “This is real,” asserted Sheriff Hobart Lewis at the vigil, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “You’re going to see families who have sons or daughters who they have found deceased because of some type of drug they may have used had fentanyl in it. They’re heartbroken.”

Local Response to the Crisis

However, Sheriff Lewis expressed hope with a reported 20% decrease in overdose deaths in the current year compared to the preceding one. He further shared details about initiatives his team has been working on to combat the issue. “We’ve collaborated with Prisma, EMS, and the coroner’s office to follow up with those folks who may have suffered an overdose, or made it to the hospital and are alive today, to offer them different treatment programs to try to prevent this from happening,” stated Lewis.

Turning Pain into Action: The Story of Bowers Family

Families impacted by fentanyl poisoning also had a chance to share their stories during the vigil. Ken and Melody Bowers recounted the heart-wrenching loss of their son, Brandon Adam Bowers, due to fentanyl poisoning in August last year. To honor their son’s memory and help others, they embarked on a mission to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl. “We started F.E.A.R., which is Fentanyl Educational Awareness Resources,” mentioned Melody Bowers. “We try to spread awareness everywhere we go and hope that we can reach somebody else so they don’t have to go through what we have gone through. If we can save one life, then I feel like my son’s death is not in vain.”

Support Services for Victims and Families

Alongside the vigil, several organizations provided resources and support services to the impacted families. One such organization was the Phoenix Center, a lifeline for those grappling with addiction and mental health issues. “Oftentimes, it’s difficult to talk about addiction and mental health, but it is everywhere,” expressed Lily Clark, a prevention specialist at the Phoenix Center. “No one is immune. We offer prevention, treatment, and recovery services.”

In light of the ongoing crisis, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office continues to extend support to anyone suffering from an addiction. With initiatives like the vigil running alongside aggressive enforcement to get the drugs off the streets, they remain committed to combating the crisis plaguing their community.