Impact of ‘Coaches vs. Overdoses’ program felt throughout SC

ANDERSON, S.C. (WSPA) — What started as a grassroots effort to use sports to spread the word about the opioid epidemic is now making a name for itself throughout the Palmetto State.

“A lot of times coaches know more about athletes and our children than their parents do because they spend more time with them,” said Scott Earley, executive director of the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association.

Earley was personally affected by the loss of one of his own players, who died from a fentanyl overdose.

“Having to stand in the funeral home and do that eulogy in front of all those young people is when it became very personal to me,” said Earley.

Earley is now a helping guide with the Coaches vs. Overdoses program , an initiative that aims to keep drugs out of students’ hands.

“It’s using athletics as a vehicle to help save lives and create awareness for, what I consider right now is our country’s biggest problem,” said Earley.

A prevention playbook will hopefully sit next to teams’ real playbooks, so that students can maintain awareness of drugs, peer pressure, and the dangers of taking things that aren’t prescribed by a doctor.

“You have that opportunity or negative peer pressure in front of you, and you’re educated enough and aware enough to not take the bait,” said Earley.

As fentanyl use continues to grow, leaders of this program hope the state’s resources do too.

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