Stories in this Issue:
Federal Grant to Help North Carolina Communities Address Substance Abuse Prevention
School District Gets Record Grant to Reduce Underage Drinking
Recent Collegiate Study Says “Normal” Not To Drink
New Phone Number Brings New Help to NC Residents
by Robin Lindner
WINSTON-SALEM – Whether you live in Wilmington, Wilson, or Wilkesboro, there is a new way for you to get help now. Starting this month, 1-877-4HELPNC becomes a direct line to an operator who can help you find answers about drug or alcohol abuse.
State law mandates there be a help line in each locality, but Partnership for a Drug-Free NC, Inc. is funding this first statewide initiative. It is also the first time North Carolina residents will have the option of talking to a person, not just an automated system.
“We want people to feel connected,” says Partnership’s C.E.O., Bert Wood. “This means a North Carolinian can just pick up the phone to take the first step in getting help for themselves or someone they love and get a human being on the other end. We wanted something every person in our state can use.”
1-877-4HELPNC is designed to offer each caller customized help and information. The phone will ring in a centralized call center, and an operator will then pass on a list of treatment facilities appropriate to the caller’s geographic area or needs. In addition, callers can also use the 1-877-4HELPNC number to get the facts about drug addiction, alcohol abuse, or a host of other substance abuse issues that affect North Carolina’s individuals, families, and communities.
The number rolls out just in time for the new crop of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) from Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Wood says, “This is another aspect to the ‘Hope, Help, and Healing’ effort that we are bringing to North Carolina.“
“It began last year in two other states, and we are also going to increase the availability of information for people who may have a drug problem. It really is a new and expanded direction for the PSAs. In addition to the prevention messages, this new campaign will encourage people to get ‘Hope, Help, and Healing.’”
The first Public Service Announcements for 2007 cover a range of topics from methamphetamine to prescription drug abuse. Partnership for A Drug-Free America (PDFA) recommends having a help line like 1-877-4HELPNC.
Kevin Collins, a regional manager with PDFA, says one thing rings true about resources like this. “You never know the time of day someone will need help. You don’t want a single moment to pass when a person wants help and calls up only to get an answering machine.”
The PSAs will begin appearing in papers and on television or radio stations across the state in March. Each ad is tagged with the Partnership for a Drug-Free information, including the 1-877-4HELPNC number. For more information on Partnership for a Drug-Free North Carolina’s services and abilities, you can also visit its website at www.drugfreenc.org.