Impacting Lives For The Better, One Athlete At A Time.
Call us at +1 (864) 401-8785
info@playsafeusa.org
400 N. Fant St, Suite D, Anderson, SC 29621
Call us at +1 (864) 401-8785
info@playsafeusa.org
400 N. Fant St, Suite D, Anderson, SC 29621
PlaySmart is PlaySafe USA’s opioid addiction and awareness program for student‑athletes, parents, and the community. We are committed to the health and safety of athletes by providing education about opioid risks and offering tools for prevention and healthy living.
Opioids are a class of powerful, highly addictive drugs that alleviate pain by interacting with the brain’s pain receptors. They include both prescription painkillers, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, as well as illegal drugs like heroin.
4.2 million painkiller prescriptions are filled every year in South Carolina — that’s more than one for every person in our state.
(Decreased by 3% from 2022.)
1 in 4 people who are prescribed opioids struggle with addiction.
4 in 5 heroin users started with prescription painkillers.
1 in 4 teens has misused or abused a prescription drug at least once.
In 2022, there were 2,296 overdose deaths in South Carolina — 1,864 of those related to opioids. That’s nearly a 7.1% increase from 2021.
Opioid overdose deaths in South Carolina have increased for the 8th year in a row.
Student-athletes are more prone to sustaining injuries such as sprains, strains, and fractures due to the physical demands of their sports.
Student-athletes who sustain injuries are more likely to be prescribed opioid painkillers by their healthcare providers to manage pain and facilitate recovery.
The use of opioid painkillers, even when prescribed, can lead to the development of opioid addiction, especially in young individuals whose brains are still developing.
Student-athletes may continue to use opioid painkillers even after their initial injury has healed, leading to dependence and addiction.
2022: 2,296
2022: 1,982
2022: 1,864
2022: 54
2022: 562
2022: 1,660
2022: 794
Do opioids provide the best possible treatment for my condition?
What are the risks and benefits? Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
What are the side effects?
What increases my risk of overdosing when using opioids?
Is it harmful to mix opioids with alcohol or other medications?
What is the lowest effective dose and the shortest amount of time that I should need to take an opioid for my acute pain?
How do we set a treatment plan to achieve my pain management goals?
How often do I need to follow up with you to discuss my treatment plan?
Are there non-opioid treatments that can be effective with fewer side effects and less chance of misuse?
How can I slowly reduce my opioid use to minimize withdrawal symptoms?
How can I transition from taking an opioid to safer pain medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen?
Take prescription medicines out of the medicine cabinet and secure them in a safe place only you know about, preferably a locked cabinet that others cannot access.
Prescription opioids should only be kept in a bottle provided by your pharmacy.
Knowing how many of your prescribed opioids you have taken – and how many remain in the bottle – will help you to know if any have been taken by someone else.
After taking your prescribed dose of a prescription opioid, immediately return the bottle to a locked cabinet or other safe place.
Behavioral
Isolation and Secretive Behavior
Small Pupils the Size of Pinpoints
Strange Sleeping Hours
Neglect of Personal Hygiene
Dropping Grades or Work Performance
Loss of Interest in Favorite Activities
Physical
Non-Responsive or Slow to Respond
Erratic or Extreme Emotions
Missing Important Appointments
Change in Attitude or Personality
Non-Responsive or Slow to Respond
Decreased Respiration Rate
Tiredness
Intense Flu-like Symptoms: Nausea, Vomiting, Sweating, Shaking
Hands, Feet or Head
South Carolina Drug Overdose Deaths 2022
Drug Overdose Deaths Statistical Report
SC DAODAS Statewide & County-Level Indicators
SCORF Core Abatement Strategies
2019 South Carolina Overdose Mortality Data Executive Summary
Highlights from 2019 South Carolina Opioid Data Update
2021 OERT Statewide Fact Sheet
CDC: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Systems (YRBSS)
CDC: Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS)
2024 SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health
SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework
NIDA Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study
Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction
AAP Clinical Practice Guidelines
NFHS High School Sports Participation Data
An all-inclusive website addressing fake pills and providing up-to-date information on opioids, naloxone, drug safety, fentanyl, and data tables for each county in South Carolina.
This 22-page playbook helps parents tackle substance misuse and is made possible by the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association and the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Services.
PlaySafe Goals for the 2024-25 Academic Year related to PlaySmart, Opioid Education and Addiction Awareness (OAA) project include:
1. Facilitate parental education on the dangers of opioid addiction at the beginning of each sports season.
2. Educate students during training room visits on the dangers of opioid addiction, specifically
including the risks and benefits of taking pain medication for a sports injury.
3. Collect data on student-athletes’ self-reported use/misuse of opioids.
4. Use data collected in the upcoming school year to determine needs for next year.
5. Implement a more deliberate focus on student prevention and peer reporting.
6. Teach students how to recognize emerging concerning behaviors in themselves and their peers
regarding opioids.
7. Develop a class for parents, coaches, staff, and the community at large to educate them on opioid
abuse.
PlaySmart is made possible by…
The PlaySmart program is made possible thanks to grant funding from The Anderson and Oconee
County Opioid Recovery Funds. These funds are guaranteed political sub-funds that are managed by
the South Carolina Opioid Recover Fund (SCORF) Board. The Board was created by legislation as a
requirement of the South Carolina Opioid Settlement Allocation Agreement to manage and disperse
funds to eligible entities.
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