Community Assessment
2009
Coalition
Name: Wilson County SA Coalition =
; Locati=
on:
Wilson County
Attachment A
Community Descr=
iption:
A. Define your community
Wilson County is famous for To=
bacco
production, industrial production facilities, and its deep southern
tradition. The County is comp=
rised
of eight townships outside of the County seat, City of Wilson. In 2008 Wilson County was determin=
ed a
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
This is partially due to its geographical location.
Wilson County has an engaged
community with a core group of volunteers.=
Focus in Wilson County, to date, has been economic development. As of the census of 2=
008,
28,613 households, of which 17% are below the poverty level.
The Wilson County Substance Ab=
use
Coalition sees a direct link between poverty and substance abuse use/abuse =
as
well as underage alcohol consumption.
The Coalition also recognizes that substance abuse does not only
B.
Describe the community demographically.
Wilson County is in the Coastal Plain
region of the U.S. state of North
Carolina. Wilson county had a population of 77, 527 at the 2008 census. According to the United States Census Bureau, the County
has a total area of 371.09
The racial makeup of the city =
was 58.9%
White, 39.4% African American, .3% =
Native American, .7% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.9% of the
population, and .7% from two or more races.
The average income per househo=
ld at
2008 census was $38,500 and the average number of people per house was 2.51=
.
24.7% of Wilson County’s
population is under 18 years of age totaling 19,149.17 people. 13% are=
over 65
year of age totaling 10,078.51 people.
[Source: US Census Bureau]
C.
Describe the community geographically.
![](3D"CommunityAssessmentFormatFinal_files/image002.jpg")
We have 9 towns/cities within Wilson Coun=
ty,
US 795, 301, 264, 42, I95 highways run through Wilson County; we have a tra=
in
station, Barton College, textile and pharmaceutical industries
II. Community N=
eeds:
A.
What local cond=
itions
are creating a higher risk for substance abuse?
![](3D"CommunityAssessmentFormatFinal_files/image004.gif")
B.
Why is drug use=
happening?
![](3D"CommunityAssessmentFormatFinal_files/image006.gif")
C.
What are the dr=
ugs of
choice in our community?
![](3D"CommunityAssessmentFormatFinal_files/image008.gif")
D.
What are the he=
alth
and social consequences our community is experiencing because of drug use?<=
/span>
<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> ![](3D"CommunityAssessmentFormatFinal_files/image010.gif")
III. Community
Resources
A.
What local cond=
itions
are preventing or inhibiting substance abuse?
·
PORT
Human Services Programs (ie ombudsman, I’m special)
·
School
based organizations (ie SADD)
·
Local
Alcoholics Anonymous
·
Local
half-way/transitional houses (Mercy House)
·
Court
Ordered treatment/programs
·
Local
Management Entity (LME)- The Beacon Center
B.
What are the
alternatives to drugs that have people in our community actively engaged?
· =
Volunteer
Action Center
· =
Girl
Scouts/Boy Scouts
· =
School
Based Extracurricular Activities (i.e. sports, band)
· =
Community
Recreation Center
· =
Boykin
Center for Performing Arts
· =
Imagination
Station
· =
Junior
Women’s League
· =
Friday’s
on the Lawn
· =
Faith
Based Activities (i.e. WayNet)
· =
YMCA
· =
4H
Services
· =
Boys
& Girls Club
· =
Peer
Mediation
· =
Communities
In Schools
· =
Down
Town Alive
IV. Community H=
istory
- Historical
origins of community general. &=
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p; &=
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p; &=
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p; &=
nbsp;
Source: 2007 Community Health Assessment![](3D"CommunityAssessmentFormatFinal_files/image012.gif")
- Historical or=
igin
of related issues.
Wilson County, not unlike other communities acro=
ss the
southeastern United States, has a 100+ year history of tobacco being essent=
ial
to the community’s economic well-being. In spite of state and national
efforts to reduce tobacco use, tobacco production in Wilson County is today
increasing. At one time, Wilson billed itself as the “World’s
Greatest Tobacco Market”, and, prior to World War II held annual toba=
cco
festivals, complete with a tobacco queen. Reducing tobacco in Wilson County=
has
been daunting, as evidenced by the relatively few smoke-free restaurants in=
the
community. For children and youth, the gateway drug nicotine, has been, and
continues to be, an accepted norm in the Wilson Community. The 2008 PRIDE
Survey reveals that Wilson County students view cigarettes as being less
harmful than marijuana. Alcohol use in Wilson County is much the same as in
other Eastern North Carolina counties, with beverage alcohol being very muc=
h an
accepted part of the social culture of the community.
Anecdotally, stories have persisted for many yea=
rs,
some substantiated, about high school students drinking on Spring break tri=
ps
to the North Carolina’s beaches, of parents allowing underage youth to
drink on Spring break and at parties in private homes in Wilson, and of
students going to area farms and remote locations to party and drink.
- History
of organizing for community improvement.
For nearly three decades, Wilson has worked to i=
mprove
the community. With regard to preventing underage drinking and illegal drug
use, Families in Action, a nonprofit drug prevention organization founded in
1982, has played a key role in keeping the need for prevention before the
community. Wilson County Public Schools has, historically, fulfilled its
obligations to provide substance abuse prevention education. Additionally, =
the
school system has promoted and participated in prevention awareness campaig=
ns
such as the national Red Ribbon Awareness Week, and sponsors alternative ac=
tivities
such as Project Graduation. Since the early 1980’s, the Wilson commun=
ity
has held town hall meetings focusing on problems associated with underage
drinking and illegal drug use, and have hosted meetings of nationally
recognized leaders in the field of prevention.
Most recently, the Wilson County Health Departme=
nt, as
a result of its 2007 Community Health Assessment, has included making subst=
ance
abuse prevention a public health priority.
Both the Wilson County Sheriff’s Departmen=
t and
the Wilson Police Department continue to strong supporters of community
prevention efforts.
- History
of organizing on related issues.
In 1982, some thought it very
ambitious for a small group of concerned parents to take on the task of
combating illegal drug use in Wilson. But twenty-five years later, thanks to
the support and involvement of parents, volunteers, community leaders, the
faith community, and the many local agencies and organizations in Wilson who
are committed to improving the lives of children and families, the work to
prevent underage drinking and illegal drug use by our youth, continues.
Families in Action, a local
nonprofit substance abuse prevention organization, grew out of a task force fo=
rmed
by the Wilson Chamber of Commerce in 1982 to examine the growing problem of
youthful alcohol and drug abuse in Wilson. With the support of the
Families in Action’s pro=
grams
and services have always been directed at helping families build resilient,
drug-free children. Early pro=
grams
and initiatives included the Secrets program, Town Meetings, America’s
PRIDE, Parent to Parent, Sports Drug Awareness Week, Red Ribbon Week, Simple
Pleasures, Prom Promise, Project Graduation, and I’m Special. In 2002, Families in Action, was
selected the pilot the national Parent Corps that was eventually rolled out=
to
eight other states.
In 2004, Families in Action
established the Parent Resource Center to promote and expand parent-centered
child and adolescent substance abuse prevention statewide. The mission of t=
he
In 2007, Families in Action pl=
ayed
an active role in the establishment of the Wilson County Substance Abuse
Coalition that holds great promise for pushing back even harder against the
forces that are barriers to our children realizing their hopes, dreams and
aspirations.
The work in Wilson County is n=
ot
finished. Far too many children and families are still being adversely affe=
cted
by underage drinking and drug abuse. With continued community support, to
Wilson County Substance Abuse Coalition will, for years to come, continue i=
ts
mission to prevent underage drinking and illegal drug use.
V. Problem / Go=
al
Statements
Priority Proble=
ms:
1. Underage Drinki=
ng
2. Marijuana Use