Fairfield Behavioral Health Services

Story by: Vernon L. KennedyExecutive Director Fairfield Behavioral Health Services

Fairfield Behavioral Health Services is a public non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality, accessible and affordable alcohol, tobacco and other drug intervention, treatment, prevention and education services to residents of Fairfield County. FBHS has been designated as the sole county authority for alcohol and drug abuse services, FBHS is CARF accredited, DHEC licensed and affiliated with the SC Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services and the Behavioral Health Services Association.

Over these 40 plus years, our statewide system has seen how drug use affects South Carolinians of all ages and from all walks of life as well as how the negative impact of substance use and addiction has afflicted homes, schools, roads/highways, workplaces and the criminal justice system. As a result, we offer an array of prevention activities and programs in the schools, churches and community. These programs are designed to increase awareness/education, reduce risks factors, enhance protective factors, and delay/reduce drug. Our youth evidence-based programs promote positive changes towards no drug use like increases in perception of risks, decision making, age of first use and parental conversations with children about dangers of drug use and decreases in perceived peer norms, and past 30-day use.

Our system recognizes drug addiction, addiction as a disease and not a moral issue. While we recognize the importance of bringing relief to those who suffer substance use disorders or behavioral health issues, we are careful to only offer and provide practices and programs that have been scientifically proven to improve a person’s condition knowing that…Prevention is Effective! Treatment Works! Recovery Happens!

What We Know

*Alcohol is more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined

*Alcohol and marijuana continue to be the MOST used drugs among teens in Fairfield County

*Fairfield County consistently has a high rate of Alcohol Impaired Driving Death ranking higher than the state average in the last three years.

* Marijuana is illegal, addictive and harmful to the body, especially developing brains

* 1 in 4 people who are prescribed opioids struggle with addiction

* Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, is the leading cause of preventable death and causes more deaths each year than the following causes combined: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Illegal drug use, Alcohol use, Motor vehicle injuries and Firearm-related incidents.

For all these statistical reasons FBHS remains persistent in expanding its continuum of services. We are extremely excited to be operating in our newly constructed facility that offers better privacy within and surrounding the facility, expansion of services, more defined spaces for services and proximity to other health and human service organizations.

With our slogan “Imagine the Difference”, we remind people to dream, have hope and invest in themselves for a better life… for sustainable recovery. We are proud to serve this community and look forward to helping youth, adults and families every day. Whether it’s alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, gambling, behavioral problems, youth or adults our licensed, certified, and trained staff are dedicated to providing confidential, evidenced-based, best practice, accessible and affordable services.

CALL US TODAY! (803) 635-2335 - www.fairfieldbhs.org Physical Address 178 US Highway 321 Bypass N. Mailing Address P. O. Box 388 · Winnsboro, SC 29180 Office Hours Monday and Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Fairfield Behavioral Health Services

The Fairfield Post