Here's a look at health and environmental news from around South Carolina.

Opioid crisis continues to hit Greenville County

Charles Cureton describes himself as a lifelong heroin addict. The 69-year-old has overdosed on the drug several times throughout the years. Each time, including last month, he survived. "It just ain't my time," the Greenville resident said. Each year, hundreds of people in South Carolina die from opioid-related overdoses. The crisis has reached the point that the deaths may surpass traffic fatalities when the statistics are released this year.

Conway Police helps host drug take back event

CONWAY, SC (WBTW) - Conway Police partnered with Shoreline Behavioral Health Services and Horry County CAST Coalition for a prescription drug tack back day, Saturday.

General Interest

Flu season is not over yet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautions

The number of people sick with flu has continued to decrease across the nation, but experts warn that the season is not over yet. New York City and 21 states continued to experience high activity of flu-like illness during the week ending March 3, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday in its weekly surveillance report. Looking at the data for recent weeks, CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said, -we're still continuing to see a decline in influenza-like activity. Even though It looks like all signs point to decreasing influenza activity, we're still in what we normally think of as flu season.

Controlled burns benefit our forests

The weather in South Carolina in March can be characterized as crisp, cool and perfect for a controlled burn. That's why it's fitting that Gov. Henry McMaster has proclaimed March 2018 Prescribed Fire Awareness Month. Prescribed burning is a very important management tool here in the Southeastern U.S. It is a necessary tool for both managers of forests and crop fields.