From "Healthy NC 2030: A Path Toward Health, "Having a substance use disorder (SUD) affects an individual's relationships with family and friends, ability to attend school or work, their overall physical and mental health, and may lead to problems with the legal system. In addition to increases in drug overdoses, the opioid epidemic has had devastating consequences including the spread of HIV and hepatitis B & C and increased rates of maltreatment and entry into foster case as more and more parents and other relatives develop and struggle with SUDs.

In Pender County's 2018 Community Health Assessment (CHA), alcohol, drug, and medication misuse/abuse were identified as the number one community health issue. From other sources, overdose deaths have quadrupled and more and more of our babies are being born addicted to substances their mothers engaged in. We know that substance use can be correlated to how inequitable our economy is currently and the need for it to be addressed as well as accessibility to affordable quality care, recovery services, and supports for those suffering from SUDs.

Pender County is also susceptible to natural disasters

Why this is important to address as a health priority?

Addressing substance use disorders in Pender County is important because:

• Alcohol, drug, and medication, misuse or abuse was identified as the number one community issue in the community health opinion survey.
• For every 1,000 babies born to Pender County residents in 2012-2016, 20 were hospitalized with drug withdrawal syndrome. By comparison the rate for the state of NC was 9 per 1,000.
• Medication and drug overdose deaths nearly quadrupled from 2014 to 2016
• Issue ranked #1 for importance at community forum
• Alcohol and drug abuse cost the state billions of dollars every year because of crime, health care expenses and lost productivity.
• Substance use can also be correlated to how inequitable our economy is currently and the need for it to be addressed. In addition, those who suffer from an addiction need to have affordable, accessible, quality care to address their substance use disorder.

Why this is important to address for our community? 

• NC Medical Society
• Department of Social Services (DSS)
• Judicial System
• Coastal Horizons
• Trillium
• Early College and Community Colleges 
• Law Enforcement
• Pender County Schools
• EMS
• Pender Memorial Hospital
• GIS/Planning
• Pharmacies
• County Manager
• Faith-based communities
• Recovery community
• SEAHEC
• New Hanover County (NHC) Resiliency Taskforce
• Smart Start
• Local provider offices
• County Commissioners
• State politicians
• Local businesses
• Board of Health
• NC Cooperative Extension
• 4-H
• Centers for Healthy Communities