CURRY COUNTY
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Information compiled by the Department
of Human Services - Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Programs states that youth in Curry County are at risk of
high rates of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, due to
early anti-social behaviors, the availability of substances
in the community and lack of student involvement in school
and family management problems. This report lists four very
important points that prove the need for a high level of
drug and alcohol prevention information.
 Alcohol
and illicit drug use by adolescents in Curry County is
higher than statewide averages.
Curry
County has consistently experienced higher than state
average rates in tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use by
youth, juvenile arrests in all crime areas, and teen
pregnancies.
Per
capita rates of alcohol related arrests of youth are
typically twice as high in Curry County as in the rest of
the state.
Parental
involvement in crime and drugs in Curry County is above the
state average by 25%.
The cumulative effect of these
conditions is further worsened by the effects of Curry's
major industry, tourism. With fluctuating seasonal
employment opportunities, many parents are at work while
their children are out of school for vacations and summer
break. Others are tempted to lives of drug use and crime to
support themselves. In Curry County child abuse/neglect
cases are characterized by
44.2%
have suspected drug and/or alcohol abuse.
20.9%
have parental involvement with a law enforcement
agency
18%
of our eighth graders are at high-risk for
depression
13.5%
have seriously considered suicide. The overall suicide death
rate for the state is 14.9, in Curry County it is
25%
Needs
services are typically low - physicians per 1,000 people in
Oregon is 227.8; in Curry County it's 99.8.
Juvenile convictions are an important
factor to consider regarding the extent of alcohol and drug
use by Curry County youth During 2006, there were
116
criminal referrals
103
violation referrals
16
dependency referrals
Property
crimes accounted for 46% of the total criminal
referrals
personal
crimes accounted for 18%
felony
drug referrals were 10%
alcohol,
tobacco and drug violations accounts for 51% of total
violation referrals.
This demonstrates alarming concern
regarding youth possession and use of alcohol, tobacco and
drugs, which translates to a high percentage of property
crimes to support the purchase of alcohol, tobacco and
drugs.
Curry County has been plagued with
declining industries, the highest median age in the state,
high child abuse rates, high unemployment and a per capita
income of $48,200, 22% lower than the State median. While
this lack of living wage employment has forced many families
to leave, many of those remaining are less well educated,
unemployed, poor or elderly. In Curry County:
over
32% of the adult population has not attained a high school
diploma or its equivalent
While
the states unemployment rate is high at 8#, the rate in
Curry County is 12.4%
Half
of the people in Curry County are at or below the poverty
line.
The
area is characterized by a disproportionate number of
elderly residents, many of them retirees. 12.8% of Oregon';s
general population is comprised of persons 65 and older
while 26.6% of Curry County residents are 65 or older
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