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Clemson Council approves SCORE-funded outreach contract with Favor Upstate to expand opioid response
Summary
The council approved pursuing South Carolina Opioid Recovery (SCORE) grant funding and a contract with Favor Upstate to fund outreach, Narcan placement on buses and distribution of fentanyl test strips; staff said roughly $170,000 is at risk if not applied for.
CLEMSON — The Clemson City Council voted to pursue SCORE opioid-recovery funding and partner with Favor Upstate to expand local outreach and overdose-response services.
City staff told the council the municipality has accumulated about $530,000 in SCORE allotments since 2021 and faces roughly $170,000 that must be applied for or risk reverting to the state. The proposed contract with Favor Upstate would fund an outreach coordinator to work with the fire department, provide Narcan for city buses and other public locations, and supply fentanyl test strips for early detection and referral into treatment.
"I serve as CEO of Favor Upstate. I'm also a woman in recovery from substance use disorder," said Leslie Pinger, the organization's chief executive, describing the group’s peer-based outreach and connections to treatment. She said Favor’s programs include peers placed in emergency departments who, "approximately 61% of the people that we see bedside we're able to refer directly to treatment."
Chief Campose told the council the Clemson Police Department recorded about seven instances last year where Narcan was administered by city officers. Staff said Clemson sees fewer overdoses than neighboring counties but is a crossroads for Pickens and Oconee counties and that outreach could reach transient users who have not previously sought services.
Council members and staff noted the SCORE funds are paid out annually through 2038 and that applications are made year by year; staff said applications require that funds be used for detection, prevention or treatment of opioid use disorder. The city also plans potential future collaboration with Clemson University to study local need and better target services.
The council approved moving forward with the Favor Upstate arrangement and pursuing the grant application. City staff said the contract and follow-up project plans will return to council as required by procurement rules and funding conditions.
