Substance Abuse Brunswick As Pro i Study Names blem County BY RA1IN ADAMS A statewide survey's recent find ing that Brunswick County has a substance abuse problem wasn't news to Bill Walz, whose job is to help local residents deal with their alcohol and drug problems on a day-to-day basis. The 65-page study, which was re leased March 27 by the Alcohol/ Drug Council of North Carolina, listed Brunswick County ? the state's 43rd most densely populated county ? as having the 13th worst substance abuse problem. "It didn't surprise me that Bruns wick County has a drug and alcohol problem," said Walz, a psychologist and director of the Southeastern Center's Brunswick County office in Bolivia. He added, however, that he thinks statistics in the survey represent only the "tip of the ice berg." Entitled "Cutting the Cost of Alcohol and Other Drag Abuse in North Carolina," the study is com posed of suggestions and analyses directed to Lt. Gov. Jim Gardner, who heads the state's "drug cabi net," as well as to Gov. Jim Martin and the N.C. General Assembly. "I have nothing against prisons and punishment," writes Anthony Mulvihill, executive director of the Durham-based alcohol and drug council. "The state may need more prison cells. My point is prisons and punishment alone don't solve any one's addiction problem. The inter vention and treatment services in the prison system and in the com munities hardly scratch the sur face." Mulvihill's main recommenda tion is that "for every SI North Carolina puts into the construction "Far and away, alcohol is the biggest abuse problem here." ? Bill Walz, Director Brunswick Center and operation of new prison cclls, the state needs to put $1 into super vision, treatment, housing and edu cation of recovering addicts in the communities." Gov. Martin has pro posed that the state spend almost half a billion dollars on prison ex pansion. While he had heard only the main findings of the survey. Southeastern Center board member Rex Gore of Shalloltc indicated last week that he agrees with Mulvihill's analysis. "Being 1 3th points to a need for ad ditional money and renewed efforts in our courts and schools in drug education and treatment," Gore told the Beacon. The study ranked the state's 100 counties by translating six alcohol and drug factors into incidents per 100,000 population. 1988 statistics were used in the survey. Factors considered were: drug overdose deaths, intravenous AIDS cases, hcpatitis-B cases, alcohol-related cirrhosis deaths, drug arrests and driving while impaired arrests. According to the survey, 1988 Brunswick County Figures showed two drug (cocaine) overdose deaths, Tive hcpatitis-B cases, eight alcohol related cirrhosis deaths, 96 drug ar rests and 536 DWI arrests. Compared to other counties in in dividual categories, Brunswick ranked 95th in drug overdoses, 93rd in AIDS cases, 64th in hcpatitis-B cases, 89th in cirrhosis deaths, 16th in drug arrests and 31st in DWI ar rests. Walz said that although the local figures seem low, they underscore the need for "specific treatment" of alcohol and drug abuse. Southeast ern Center's Bolivia office offers mainly alcohol abuse treatment, while Cape Fear Substance Abuse Treatment Center handles local drug abuse treatment cases. The local director noted that Brunswick County's alcohol and drug problems arc understandable because the poverty level here is relatively high; the county is a "ma jor entry point" for illegal drugs, as evidenced by local marijuana- and cocaine-trafficking investigations in recent years; and sections of the coastal county arc "party communi ties," where some individuals visit the area to "party" and then never leave, Walz said. "Far and away, alcohol is the biggest abuse problem here," Walz commented, adding that treatment for cocaine and crack abuse also needs particular attention in Bruns wick County. The study points out that 19 of the 25 highest-ranking counties arc loeated along the paths of Intcr slatcs 85 and 95, and U.S. 74, which generally are considered by law en forcement agencies to be drug-traf ficking corridors. On the coast, Brunswick, New Hanover, Beaufort and Dare counties are listed among the top 25 problem counties. Watch the Performances of... Lane Academy of Dance & Gym 1 rr w ^ ^ ? ? v m. VfllVV V in the Tclp, JclZZ & OpCIl Categories At The 1990 \s A^\ Natlon.a! Fi""lsl ^/|r " " July 4th - Sth In the recent Showstopper Regionals. C. Lane Academy won four 1st Place Awards and one 3rd Place Award of five categories entered! In the Star Maker Regionals, we received a 3rd Place Award for tap -the only category we entered. All Events Held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center Little River, SC 249-4042 18-116364 And The "Star Makers Competition Finals" a division of -DQNCE MQKER&hc __1 June 25th -28th __ Christy Thompson Lane Director & Competition Choreographer TRUCKLOAP SALEHi IIP" bedding SALE jj|PH "T Bedding Starting At... H Jin Living Room ? Bedroom ? Rattan Wicker ? Lamps "Quality Furniture At Discount Prices" 5 Hwy. 17 N., Shallotte, 754-6642 VISA & MasterCard Accepted ? Financing Available 6 Lincoln First- Graders ' Book It ' PHOTO CONT*l?UnO Esther Smith's first-grade class at Lincoln Primary School, I. eland, recently celebrated 100-percent achievement in the Pizza Hut "Book-It" program with a pizza party at the company's Inland restaurant. The students read more than 1,000 books in the program, which ran from last October to March. Pictured are: (front row, from left) Ashley Collins, Jessica Thurman, Travis Henderson, Jeff I^wis, Jason Ganey, Susan I^wis and iMQuina Toomer; (second row, from left) Ashley Milliken, Ixitonya Carr, Robert Royal, Holly Fowler, Zedric James, Ray Baldwin, Joshua Sawyer, Dusty Greiner and Nicole Lunsford ; (third row, from left) Aaron Perkins, O' Bryan Munn, iMuren Boyles, Staci Brew, Ben Matava and David Skaggs; (fourth row, from left) student teacher Kim Briles, restaurant assistant manager Penny Ixtng and Mrs. Smith. Not pictured are students Anthony Autwell and Stephanie Davis, and teacher's assistant c.erni/tin* W.A. (ALfoi\z\l ROACH ft DISTRICT 2 Uemocratic Commissioner COASTAL JANITORIAL SUPPLY :arrying a Complete Line oi Come see our Spring Specials!!! T 10% OFF WITH THIS AD! ~] Lm an mmm wmm mmm mm ^m mm mm ib mm wmm mm mmm mmm wmm mm mI ?Waxes ? Brooms ? Brushes ? Trash Can liners Vacuum Cleaners ? Odor Absorbers ? Rust & * Mildew Removers ? 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