By Erin Smith
The NC Department of Health and Human Services has released the Bladen County State of the County Health Report for 2017.
The report identifies two priorities in the county in terms of health. The first priorities are substance abuse/misuse of tobacco/vapor products, alcohol and prescription drug abuse/misuse. The second set of priorities are identified as obesity/weight problems. The report also identifies teen pregnancy as a new and emerging issue.
According to the report, heart disease was identified as the number one cause of death in Bladen County for 2017. Other cases death identified were Diabetes, cerebrovascular deaths such as high blood pressure and stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease such as COPD, cancer. Other unintentional death and injury which includes falls, drowning, accidental gunfire, motor vehicle, and poisoning deaths was placed at No. 6.
Read the entire report here.