Underage Drinking Needs Assessment

 Located in the midlands of the state of South Carolina approximately halfway between the state capitol of Columbia and the port city of Charleston.  It is the second largest county within the state with a square mileage of 1,128 square miles of which 22 square miles is water.  It is a rural county no matter which of three definitions is applied.  There is one city, 16 towns, and two census designated areas.  The City of Orangeburg is the county and first judicial circuit seat.  It is intersected by two major interstates, I-95 and I-26.  Population has declined from a total of 92,501 people in 2010 to 90,090 people in  It has a predominant racial makeup of 35% White and 62% Black or African American compared to the state’s racial makeup of 77% White and 13% Black or African American.

 There are over 16,000 students in the three public school districts throughout Orangeburg County. Within these three districts, there are 29 schools; 14 elementary schools, five middle schools, and eight high schools. There is a large private school system with nine schools located in Orangeburg County. The largest of the private schools is Orangeburg Preparatory School with an enrollment of close to 900 students K4 – 12.  Several opportunities for higher education exist: one private college, one private university (Claflin University), one public university (SC State University), one technical college, and two vocational schools. Claflin and State Universities are historically black colleges.  There are two main bodies of water for sports and recreation, Lake Marion and the Edisto River. The area also includes a state park encompassing 2500 acres with swamplands.  It is known for the Edisto Memorial Gardens. It is home to several well known festivals, Railrode Daze, the Rose Festival, the Governor’s Frog Jump, the Grand American Hunt, and the Elloree Horse Trials.  Recreational opportunities are limited with only a skating rink and a spray park.

 While other drug use/abuse exists in Orangeburg County, the Edisto Health Coalition identified alcohol as the primary drug to be addressed.  Coalition members felt that by targeting underage drinking that adult alcohol problems could be thwarted in the long term.  Through consistent alcohol compliance checks, youth access to alcohol through retail establishments has significantly decreased from 50% in 2007 to around 13% in 2015 in Orangeburg County. However, the issue of underage drinking remains a problem due to other avenues of access and the perception of favorable adult attitudes.

 Archival Data 2012 Communities that Care Survey AET Alcohol Compliance Check Annual Data  Key Informant Interviews Law Enforcement School Personnel Health Agency Representatives  Adult Focus Group Edisto Health Coalition  Youth Focus Groups Local High School-Age Youth Local Middle School-Age Youth

2012 COMMUNITIES THAT CARE SURVEY CategoryOrangeburg CountySouth Carolina Lifetime Alcohol Use59%64% Age of First Use, 9 th Grade and Under23%24% Drinking Regularly, 9 th Grade and Under8%5% 30 Day Use34%38% Binge Drinking20%19% Ease of Access (Felt it was easy to get)60%61% Drunk Driving/Riding with a Drunk Driver39%38% Source of AlcoholOrangeburg CountySouth Carolina My Parent6% Parent of Friend7% Friend or Family Member >2513% Friend or Family Member %24% Friend or Family Member <2112%16% Some Other Adult13%

 Youth participants felt that alcohol is a big problem in the county.  Youth felt that you can get it pretty much anywhere and pretty much any older person is willing to get it for you. This list included parents, brothers, sisters and older friends. People who did it when they were young. They also included stealing it from convenience stores.  Youth participants expressed that the area teens “live to drink on the weekends”.  As to where Orangeburg teens were drinking, youth respondents replied at Mud Bogs, someone’s house, down at the river, the park, abandoned houses and in the woods.  Several of the youth participants reported that they knew parents who provided alcohol to underage youth or permitted underage drinking.  Participating youth felt that adults allowed underage drinking because they did it when they were young, would rather have them drinking with them or want to be “friends” with their kid.

 Youth participants reported not all parents allow it, but that you have to know the right ones.  Youth felt that drinking and driving was a big problem for area youth. While few would admit to drinking and driving, 60% reported getting into a car with someone who had been drinking.  Youth participants shared knowledge of a recent crash incident involving friends who drank and drove.  High school participants reported that area youth do not fear getting caught with underage drinking. “No one thinks about it unless someone gets caught and they talk about it.”  According to youth participants, adults don’t fear getting caught providing alcohol to underage youth. “They don’t seem to care”.  High school youth felt like underage drinking can’t be stopped and that parents should know better.

 Easy Retail Access  Easy Social Access  Social Norms Accepting and/or Encouraging Use  Laws and Ordinances Strictly Enforced  Knowledge Regarding Risks Associated with Underage Drinking  Perception of Harm  Clear Expectations and Limits

 Community Support Inconsistent Enforcement of Rules Uniform Referral Policies Parental Attitudes  Political Will Case Settlement Limited Imagination Opinions Intensity Saliency  Capacity Personnel Geography Resources  Data Gaps Parents Hot Spot Identification Consistent Source of Youth Data Judicial

In rural communities, fields and private property are often hot party spots.

Based on the limited accumulated data and community input, a portrait of the underage alcohol issue in Orangeburg County is emerging. Through consistent alcohol compliance checks, youth retail access to alcohol has significantly decreased. However, youth are still getting alcohol. The youth focus groups support the CTC’s data that suggests that access is coming through older adults. Area youth indicated a willingness among parents and older adults to provide alcohol to minors. Area youth perceive that adults don’t really care about underage drinking in Orangeburg County. Four area college campuses may be a contributing factor with 21 year olds partying with high school students. Some ideas for addressing these issues are listed below:  Continued Alcohol Compliance Checks  Adding Shoulder Tap Operations  Increasing Identification of Underage Parties  Increasing Party Dispersals  Increasing Media Campaigns  Targeted Information Dissemination  Targeted Law Enforcement Checkpoints

Thank you to all those community organizations and individuals who have provided input and/or assistance in gathering community information and data. The Edisto Health Coalition is always seeking active new members. If you are interested in becoming one or know someone who would be interested, please have them call , ext A special thanks to all those who are members of and serve the Edisto Health Coalition.