Duplin County saw a decline in the life expectancy starting in 2019, dipping from 80 years old to 73 years old most recently in 2022. Per the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2024), COVID19 caused a global decline in life expectancy by 1.6 year between 2019 and 2020. Long COVID has also played a part in life expectancy, as well as chronic diseases within Duplin County. Among many other factors, mental health and substance abuse may also impact life expectancy negatively.

What helps:

• Primary care access
• Chronic disease management programs
• Substance abuse initiatives within the county
• Free medication refills offered through NCMedAssist for uninsured patients
• Tobacco/e-cigarette programs offered within county
• Various mental healthcare providers

What hurts:

• Availability of fatal substances to public
• Lack of education or motivation of patient's to seek preventative care
• Tobacco and e-cigarette use
• Inaccessibility to healthcare in some areas of the county

• ECU Healthcare
• Duplin County EMS
• Duplin County Health Department
• QuitlineNC
• Duplin County Mental Healthcare providers
• Duplin DSS
• Duplin County Health Coalition

• Accessible primary and preventative care
• Access to medications to manage chronic conditions despite insurance or income status
• More referrals to QuitlineNC from providers
• Increased awareness of nutritional services within the county

• Increase efforts to start primary care mobile medical unit through the health department
• Educate and remind providers of the importance and process of referring patients to QuitlineNC
• Increase awareness of nutrition sites within Duplin County for those in need through social media, word of mouth, etc.
• Educate new providers and remind of PAP program and NCMedAssist referral program and process