Research has long shown that the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs is the single most serious health problem in the United States, causing more deaths, illnesses and disabilities than any other preventable health condition. Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs cost Americans an estimated $400 billion a year in health care, welfare, crime, automobile accidents and lost productivity. Although drug abuse is a nationwide problem, the impact of substance abuse varies greatly across the country.
A first step in dealing with the issue of substance abuse in local communities is to understand the extent of the problem, its impact on our community and the resoures available to prevent, treat or reduce the harm associated with substance abuse. National and even State-level data is inadequate to capture the distinctions required to shape local strategies.
A consolidated, comprehensive report on the status of addiction and substance abuse in Charlotte-Mecklenburg is not currently available. The community, substance abuse professionals and organizations, elected officials and managers in business and governement service lack sufficient information concerning local substance abuse trends when making decisions regarding these issues. According to the Mecklenburg Vision 2015, created by the County Commissioners, Mecklenburg County "will have the lowest per capita incidence of substance abuse in the nation." We need to put the mechanism in place to measure this county's incidence of substance abuse - both to guide us in achieving this vision and to gauge our progress toward it.
The Substance Abuse Indicators Report will describe and monitor change in the number of people who use and abuse substances, the level of community harm associated with substance abuse problems and the level of community effort to defeat substance abuse. The study process involved in compiling the Report will help the County to build cohesiveness between the multitude of service providers. The findings provide valuable information for local action regarding policy, treatment, enforcement, prevention and education, while increasing public interest and support for solutions.
View Indicators Report(2006)
- print Indicators Report (text)
- print Executive Summary
View Indicators Report (2007)
View Executive Summary (2007)
View Youth Drug Survey
View Alcohol Purchase Survey Report (June 2006)
View Alcohol Purchase Survey Report (October 2006)
View Do the Write Thing Report (2006-2007)
View Community Survey Report (2007)
* View Headliners Public Service Announcement
* View Prom Public Service Announcement #1
* View Prom Public Service Announcement #2
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