Substance misuse and our related results are aligned with the following Healthy NC 2030 Indicators:

• Reduce the suicide rate (per 100,000 population)
• Drug overdose/poisoning deaths

Why it Matters?

As in other states, North Carolina has experienced a sharp increase in the number of drug overdose deaths over the last decade, largely due to the
opioid epidemic. Substance Use Disorder has devastating impacts on the life of the people who experience it, their families, and their communities.

Excessive drinking, a major cause of morbidity and mortality across the United States, has significant impacts on individuals, families, communities,
and state and local economies. Alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable deaths in North Carolina.

The Numbers

What Does This Mean for Macon?

• 9% of child abuse and neglect cases were substantiated in FY19-20.
• The prevalence of individuals whose life has been negatively affected by substance abuse decreased to 50.1% in 2021.
• The rate of hospital discharges with infant drug withdrawal diagnosis decreased from 31.6 to 28.1 per 1000 live births in 2015-2019.
• 66% of key informants selected substance misuse as a major problem in the community.
• This health issue is related to the HNC 2030 desired results and indicators for decrease overdose deaths. The rate of drug overdose deaths was 18.3 in 2019 and is close to meeting the 2030 target of 18.

What’s Helping?

• No wrong door approaches
• Peer support
• Opioid Settlement Funds
• Harm reduction intervention

​​​​​​What’s Hurting?

• Unintended consequences of restriction on prescribing Rx opioids (people turning to illicit substances.
• Lack of mental health resources
• Lack of long term programs
• Access to comprehensive healthcare
• Stigma

Who’s Most Impacted?

• Veterans
• People experiencing mental health issues
• People experiencing chronic pain

What Else Do We Know?

• One in 14 Americans reports experiencing a substance use disorder
• Not one single driving factor that leads to addiction.
• Some people use drugs to cope with stress, trauma, or to help with mental health issues.
• Some may develop opioid use disorder after misusing opioids that were prescribed by doctors.

What Works to Do Better?

• Examples of Evidence-based Interventions
  • Promoting alternative to prescription pain management through advocacy and patient education
  • Public awareness campaign
  • Screening for substance use disorder
• Examples identified by CHA Prioritization attendees:
  • Peer Support (peer support for veterans)
  • Long-term rehabilitation facilities