North Carolina

Viewpoints: Decriminalization in North Carolina – Chapelboro.com

Published

9 months ago

November 20, 2023

Viewpoints: Decriminalization in North Carolina – Chapelboro.com

“Viewpoints” is a place on Chapelboro where local people are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on issues affecting our community. If you’d like to contribute a column on an issue you’re concerned about, interesting happenings around town, reflections on local life — or anything else — send a submission to viewpoints@wchl.com.

Oregon Decriminalized Hard Drugs, and I’m Calling On NC To Do the Same.

A perspective from Emily Marois

Oregon became the first U.S. state to completely decriminalize hard drugs in 2020- including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. Measure 110 reduced penalties for possession of these hard substances in small quantities, reducing the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor offense. A citation and presumptive fine would still be issued but could be dismissed with proof that the charged individual had voluntarily connected themselves with treatment services, most commonly either through the completion of a behavioral health screening or by calling a statewide hotline. These phone lines, however, seldom rang in the year after this bill was passed- of the thousands of citations issued, only 92 people called and completed assessments that would connect them to rehab services. This low number of calls is clear evidence that the 24-hour telephone service was not working as intended.

I know what you’re thinking. Aren’t the streets going to be filled with frat boys doing lines of coke and drug addicts injecting themselves with heroin? And what’s going to stop people from getting a citation, calling the hotline for a behavioral assessment and a referral to services they aren’t required to utilize, and then getting the citation dismissed without actually doing anything? The war on drugs in this country is a much more nuanced issue than this. There is a large misconception around what the term “decriminalization” actually means- and no, it does not mean people who do drugs are getting off easy without any punitive measures at all. So while yes, you technically could go out on Franklin street and do a line of cocaine without fear of being arrested and taken to jail, that does not mean you should expect no follow-up from law enforcement or rehabilitation services.

The aim of this Oregon ballot initiative was to redirect people towards substance abuse treatment who would otherwise face jail time and oftentimes, recidivism. The U.S. arrests more people annually for drug offenses than any other country, and 90% of drug-related arrests were for personal possession of drugs. In North Carolina, the percentage of federal sentences for drug-related offenses continue to be higher than the national percentage. More than 1 in 7 criminal offenses reported between 2019 and 2022 in NC were drug offenses- with the vast majority of them (86%) including no other reportable criminal offenses. This means that a good portion of people being arrested on criminal offenses are being locked up for doing small amounts of illicit substances (usually in the privacy of their own homes) and have no other criminal record at the time of their arrest. Criminalization of hard drugs is also used by the criminal justice system as a mechanism for reinforcing structural racism. Black Americans comprise 13% of the U.S. population but make up double (26%) of all national drug-related arrests. In Oregon, Black Americans are 2.5 times as likely to be convicted of felony drug possession as Whites, who make up 76% of the state’s population. Furthermore, criminalization is also associated with high-risk drug practices such as reusing needles and deterring calls for medical help in overdose situations.

Preliminary federal data has indicated that fatal overdoses in Oregon rose by 20% from May 2022 to May 2023 and many critics are citing this increase as reason to push back on decriminalization. However, this overdose rate may have more to do with nationwide trends such as the epidemic of fentanyl/xylazine and rising prevalence of homelessness. Measure 110 was also introduced during the year we were navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Though Measure 110 was significantly flawed and produced unintended effects in Oregon, it is more likely that this correlation between decriminalization and higher overdose rates is a product of these

national trends in combination with a dysfunctional health care system. As Measure 110 was rolled out, there was no mechanism in place to prepare health systems to receive an influx of individuals needing substance abuse treatment services. This served as a double-edged sword because not only were health services not ready to receive these people, but the individuals using drugs were also not motivated to seek them out (hence the low number of hotline calls). Why would these people have any reason to believe these services are effective, confidential, and worth their time? The disconnect I see here is not a result of decriminalization policy itself, but rather a weak implementation strategy. Let’s take a look at Portugal as a reform model- a country that has successfully reduced addiction stigma and shifted funding to be rehabilitation focused. Anyone caught with less than a 10-day supply of hard drugs is served mandatory medical treatment, requiring drug users to give these rehab services a try.

I am calling on North Carolinians to reform Measure 110 and get it on the ballot in Wake and Orange counties. Shifting drug policy from a punitive approach to one that is rehab focused and strength-based would allow for lesser recidivism in our communities and greater economic opportunities for all. Having an arrest record significantly impacts one’s likelihood of passing employment background checks, getting homeowner and education loan approval, and qualifying for public benefits such as SNAP. A mere drug possession charge (even for weed) can prevent people from being able to rent a house, a car, or get a loan for school- and yet those who use drugs are expected to get clean and turn their life around while being barred from almost every socioeconomic resource. Let’s reframe this narrative. The current model in Oregon purports that failure to pay citation fines does not result in the levying of any additional penalty. I propose that the NC bill require every fine to be paid and impose additional fines for citations with overdue payments. I believe slightly changing how this is enforced would increase accountability and provide a financial incentive for people to take advantage of treatment services. I also suggest that this excess funding be funneled into research on implementation intention to better understand the intention-behavior gap that underlies the low frequency of people accessing substance abuse treatment. Give your representative a call and let them know that you support bringing Measure 110 to North Carolina and would like to see it on the ballot in our next local election.

“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.

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North Carolina

Tropical Storm Debby: ‘Historic,’ ‘catastrophic’ flooding possible on South Carolina coast

Published

2 hours ago

August 4, 2024

Press Room

Tropical Storm Debby: ‘Historic,’ ‘catastrophic’ flooding possible on South Carolina coast

Tropical Storm Debby, in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday afternoon and headed toward the Big Bend area of Florida, is forecast to impact parts of South Carolina and North Carolina this week. Alerts have been issued for the storm that could bring potentially historic rainfall, rough surf and flooding to these regions.

At 2 p.m. Sunday, the National Hurricane Center issued an advisory for Tropical Storm Debby, noting that it is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall Monday morning. Debby is expected to move slowly across northern Florida and into southern Georgia before moving into the Atlantic Ocean and up the coast.

The cone that shows the storm’s probable path includes much of S.C. However, many variables remain, including the strength of the still-developing storm and its exact eventual path.

Track Tropical Storm Debby

Track Debby: South Carolina Storm Tracker and Model Mixer

What can we expect in South Carolina?

The Hurricane Center’s forecast shows the center of the storm reaching South Carolina by about 8 p.m. Tuesday. But effects like heavy rain could start as early as Monday night.

Rainfall along the coast is expected to be the main concern. The S.C. coast from the southern part of the state past the Charleston area could see 16-20 inches of rain, with local amounts of up to 30 inches. That will likely result in “considerable” flash and urban flooding, and some river flooding is possible, the Hurricane Center said.

“Heavy rainfall will likely result in considerable flooding impacts from the Florida Big Bend region through southeast Georgia and the Coastal Plain of the Carolinas through Friday,” the Hurricane Center said. “Potentially historic heavy rainfall across southeast Georgia and South Carolina through Friday morning may result in areas of catastrophic flooding. Significant river flooding is also expected.”

The likelihood of storm surges creates a life-threatening situation, the Hurricane Center said. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.

Rain of about 1-4 inches is forecast for parts of the Upstate.

What watches and warnings are in effect in South Carolina?

A flood watch is in effect from 2 a.m. Monday through Friday morning for southeast South Carolina, including Allendale, Beaufort, Charleston, Coastal Colleton, Coastal Jasper, Dorchester, Hampton, Inland Berkeley, Inland Colleton, Inland Jasper and Tidal Berkeley.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for Charleston, McClellanville and Edisto Island. The forecast calls for winds of 20-30 mph with gusts to 40 mph.

A storm surge watch is in effect beginning Monday afternoon for Charleston, McClellanville and Edisto Island, with a potential of 2-4 feet above ground.

What other watches and warnings are in effect?

As of Sunday afternoon the depression was about 125 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida.

A hurricane warning is in effect for Florida coast from the Suwannee River to the Ochlockonee River.
A hurricane watch is in effect for the Florida coast west of the Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass * Florida coast south of the Suwannee River to Yankeetown.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Dry Tortugas, the Florida coast south of the Suwannee River to East Cape Sable and the Florida coast west of the Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Florida coast west of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach, and the Georgia and South Carolina coast from the Mouth of the St. Mary’s River to South Santee River South Carolina.
A storm surge warning is in effect for the Florida coast from the middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass including Tampa Bay.
A storm surge watch is in effect for the Florida coast from Bonita Beach northward to the middle of Longboat Key, including Charlotte Harbor, and thr Georgia and South Carolina coast from the Mouth of the St. Mary’s River to South Santee River South Carolina.

More: When is first day of fall? SC’s weather forecast by Old Farmer’s Almanac; is it accurate?

More: Heat wave continues, cooling stations open in Spartanburg County. What about Greenville?

Where is Tropical Storm Debby?

Track it: South Carolina Storm Tracker and Model Mixer

Conditions at 2 p.m. Aug. 4:

Location: 125 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida.
Maximum sustained winds: 65 mph.
Movement: North-northwest at 13 mph.

More: Heat advisory in effect for Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson, precautions to stay cool

Are you prepared for a hurricane?

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Even if this system won’t pose a threat to the Upstate, it’s never too early to be prepared.

Iris Seaton, Carolinas Connect, and Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida, contributed.

Todd Runkle is the Carolinas Connect editor and also a content coach for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at trunkle@gannett.com.

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North Carolina

North Carolina Zoo celebrates its 50 anniversary

Published

9 hours ago

August 4, 2024

Press Room

North Carolina Zoo celebrates its 50 anniversary

ASHEBORO, N.C. (WTVD) — The North Carolina Zoo is celebrating 50 years.

Located in Asheboro, the zoo houses about 1,700 animals and over 250 species primarily from Africa and North America.

On social media, NC Zoo wrote Friday:

“Throughout our history, we’ve been home to a diverse array of remarkable animals, dedicated keepers, and passionate employees who work tirelessly behind the scenes. Join us in honoring this milestone by visiting the Zoo in 2024!”

The Zoo also mentioned the Zoo’s first animals, which were two Galapagos tortoises named Tort and Retort.

The post said in part: “These two tortoises symbolize the early days of the North Carolina Zoo and are cherished deeply in our hearts.”

The North Carolina Zoo is one of two state-supported zoos in the country. The other is the Minnesota Zoo.

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North Carolina

NC has some of the most dangerous roads in the US: See how Wilmington-area counties rank

Published

16 hours ago

August 4, 2024

Press Room

NC has some of the most dangerous roads in the US: See how Wilmington-area counties rank

With a recent study revealing North Carolina as one of the states with the riskiest roads to travel, some may wonder how safe the roads are here in the Cape Fear region.

MarketWatch Guides, a site that provides “reviews of consumer products and services to help readers make educated purchasing decisions,” focuses in part on car insurance comparisons, vehicle safety and more.

A recent study by the site analyzed factors including annual miles driven per 100,000 system miles, percentage of rough roads and fatal injuries per 100,000 licensed drivers. States were given a rating out of 10 points, with 10 being the most dangerous.

More: Distracted driving in Wilmington: How big of a problem is it?

North Carolina’s ranking among the most dangerous

According to the study, the states with the most dangerous drivers based on the factors studied are:

Louisiana – 7.55/10

California – 7.21/10

New Mexico – 6.74/10

Hawaii – 6.73/10

Delaware – 6.67/10

New Jersey – 6.53/10

Mississippi – 6.47/10

North Carolina – 6.39/10

Massachusetts – 6.33/10

Maryland and Texas – 6.26/10

According to the study, North Carolina had 32.5 fatal injuries per 100,000 licensed drivers, but only 2.1% of rough roads, which was the lowest percentage out of the other ranked states.

For a more localized perspective, the North Carolina Department of Transportation releases annual traffic crash facts data. The most recent 2022 report includes a ranking of counties based on several factors, including reported crashes, crash severity, crash rates based on population, registered vehicles and estimated vehicle miles traveled.

The most dangerous county for drivers, ranked at No. 1 for the past five years, was Robeson County. The county had 60 fatal crashes in 2022 with 1,136 non-fatal injury crashes. The rest of the total 4,056 crashes were property-damage-only. The county with the best ranking was Hyde County, coming in at No. 100. The county had one fatal crash in 2022 and 10 non-fatal injury crashes. The county had a total of 45 crashes, the rest of which were property damage only.

More: MyReporter: Which intersections see the most red-light camera violations in Wilmington?

Here’s where the Cape Fear region counties ranked.

Brunswick County

Ranked No. 76 in 2022, Brunswick County had 25 fatal crashes and 715 non-fatal injury crashes. The total crashes for that year were 3,146. The remainder of the crashes were property damage only.

New Hanover County

Ranked No. 58, New Hanover had 19 fatal crashes and 1,313 non-fatal injury crashes, both of which went down from 2021. The total crashes in New Hanover were 5,617. The remainder of the crashes were property damage only.

Pender County

Ranked No. 47, Pender County had the worst ranking despite having the lowest number of crashes. The county had 12 fatal crashes and 374 non-fatal injury crashes, and a total of 1,156 crashes. The rest of the crashes were property damage only.

Iris Seaton, USA Today Network, contributed to this report.

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