All Brunswick County priorities are addressed in the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Click on the blue links below for progress made in 2023 in the programs

Chronic Conditions:

• Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support

• Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)

• Tobacco Cessation Program

• Brunswick Wellness Coalition Healthy Food Drives

• Novant Health Food Pharmacy Program 

Behavioral Health:

•   enCompass Program

•   Anchor Initiative

•   Medication Take Back Events

•   Mental Health Stigma Campaign

Access to Healthcare:

•   Novant Mobile Mammography Bus

•   Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Program

•   Medicaid Expansion

There are no notable changes in morbidity and mortality to report for 2023

The following are new or emerging issues identified in 2023 that impact community health in Brunswick County:

• Increase in syphilis and congenital syphilis and the shortage of Bicillin injections due to increase demand for treatment of syphilis

• Increase in fentanyl overdose deaths. (From 2016-2021 there was an 81% increase in fentanyl overdose deaths) Data Source: North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics, vital statistics death certificate data.

Cost of living in Brunswick County: 

• Some Brunswick County residents have seen increases in property tax (as a result 2023 revaluation)

• Property insurance rates and increased housing costs are rising due to a variety of factors. This has caused great challenges for new buyers to purchase homes and current owners to maintain homes. County Commissioners continue to advocate on behalf our county citizens in this matter Source: Brunswick County Commissioners Send Letter to NC Insurance Commissioner on Proposed Insurance Rates

  • Increased housing cost impacts the budgets of individuals and families to use on food, utilities, and medical care

• Nationwide average annual food-at-home prices were 5.0 percent higher in 2023 than in 2022. For context, the 20-year historical level of retail food price inflation is 2.5 percent per year. Price growth slowed in 2023 compared with 2022, when food-at-home prices rose by 11.4 percent Data Source USDA

The following are new initiatives or changes in our community in 2023:

• In 2023, County leaders and partners exemplified commitment to the goal that All residents in Brunswick County have equitable access to substance use disorder education and services by supporting the following new or enhanced services:

  • Brunswick County Health Services and Coastal Horizons Inc was accepted into the Addiction Policy Forums Anti-Stigma Initiative 

  • Brunswick County Government utilized its NC Opioid Settlement funds to support and implement several high impact Substance Use Disorder Interventions:

    • Treatment at The Healing Place - Recovery Housing Support

    • Mental-Substance Use Clinician - Early Intervention and Recovery Support Services

    • Substance Use Health Educator Position -Collaborative Strategic Planning

  • Christian Recovery Centers Inc expands its recovery and reentry programs. It will now offer up to 24 months of assistance for clients and double its bed count as it purchases a new facility in Shallotte WECT News Story: Addiction treatment center to expand services   Brunswick Beacon: CRCI bringing recovery and reentry program to Shallotte

• December 1, 2023 NC  Medicaid Expansion went into effective increasing health care access for thousands of Brunswick County residents. Brunswick County strives toward ongoing communication and onboarding efforts to eligible citizens

• Brunswick County Health Services paused the Mental Health Stigma Campaign due to the changes National Alliance on Mental Illness(NAMI) made to the tracking of pledges based on zip codes

• Brunswick County Emergency Medical Services was added to the Health and Human Service team of departments which will allow for greater collaboration for more coordinated services addressing health and safety for citizens

• In 2023, there have been preliminary discussions among leaders to develop a plan for a Community Paramedicine Program