Opioid Response Program
For emergency assistance, call 9-1-1. To download a printable brochure with services and information, click here.
(843) 918-1600
opioid@cityofmyrtlebeach.com
Michelle L. Smith, Program Coordinator
Jude Bauccio, Certified Peer Support Specialist
Robert Meaney, Certified Peer Support Specialist
OVERVIEW & MISSION
Are you addicted to opioids, or do you know someone who is an addict? The Myrtle Beach Fire Department has an Opioid Response Program, with a community support team that reaches out to help people in need. The team includes an opioid program coordinator and two certified peer support specialists. Their goal is to help individuals struggling with substance abuse – including loved ones who are supporting them.
The support team offers three pathways to recovery. The first is through self-referral. The staff accepts contact from any community member who’s struggling with problematic substance abuse. The second is an emergency response pathway, where our team responds in real time with Myrtle Beach’s first responders to suspected overdose calls. The third pathway is a post-overdose outreach. With assistance from the Police Department, the support team initiates home visits to individuals who have survived a suspected overdose.
Through empathy, compassion and informational guidance, the team’s mission is to help break the cycle of addiction. With “lived experience,” the two certified peer support specialists can meet you where you are to help you start your chosen path to recovery. Following a brief assessment, the team provides resources and guidance and can help facilitate the care that you feel is most appropriate.
Loved ones who are supporting someone who’s struggling with substance abuse often benefit from support, too. The team can provide informational guidance and referral to community services, including family-centered mutual aid groups and counseling services.
If you or someone you know is suffering from problematic substance abuse, please send an email to opioid@cityofmyrtlebeach.com or call 843-918-1600. We’ll be glad to direct you to the appropriate team member.