Heroin/Opioid study underway in Horry, Georgetown Counties

Heroin and opioid abuse is a national health crisis, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.  Sadly, Horry and Georgetown Counties have not been exempt from this epidemic, which is why local governments and the medical community are joining forces to find solutions.  They have asked Renee Causey, a professor at Horry-Georgetown Technical College, to lead a study that will assess the state of the epidemic.  

Ms. Causey will research local policies, identify current initiatives, highlight any gaps in service and provide recommendations for improvements which will help save lives in the two counties.  “We need to identify what’s working and what isn’t and craft a strategy to halt the abuse which is claiming so many of our residents and harming our families,” Causey said.  She has already begun the research and will have a report in less than 120 days. 

Ms. Causey is the 2017 HGTC Professor of the Year and teaches in the Human Services program.  She earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology and philosophy, followed by a master’s of social work, from the University of South Carolina.  She is currently a doctoral student, completing her dissertation research on how to resolve the opioid crisis in America.

Funding for the $60,000 study came from a variety of stakeholders who are forced to respond to the consequences of heroin and opioid abuse.  The City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County each contributed $12,500.  The City of Georgetown and Georgetown County contributed $5,000 each, while healthcare providers HCA, McLeod Health, Tidelands Health and Conway Medical Center each contributed $6,250.