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“The rankings show us that where we live matters to our health and that good health is about more than <br />medical care, it’s also about factors like access to healthy food and reliable transportation, as well as safe <br />and healthy schools and neighborhoods,” said Simmons. <br />Orange County was ranked as having the best clinical care and longest length of life in North Carolina. <br />But there are some areas where Orange County could improve such as quality of life where Orange <br />County was ranked 7th and physical environment, which consider ed factors like air quality, housing and <br />commute to work, Orange County was ranked 4th. <br />But in last year’s study, Orange County was ranked as the healthiest county in North Carolina. This year, <br />Wake County came out on top. <br />“Look at the data and compare from last year’s ranking to this year but this is only part of the story,” said <br />Simmons, “recognize that there were improvements made as well, even if there was a slip in the <br />rankings.” <br />The rate of uninsured people and violent crime has gone down in Orange County over the past year. <br />The study illuminates some inequalities that exist in Orange County too. Income inequality in Orange <br />County is higher than most other counties in the state and the rate of children living in poverty has risen to <br />13%. <br />“These are all things that communities can do something about but it also shows us that not everyone has <br />the same opportunity to be healthy,” said Simmons. <br />Simmons said probably the most disturbing new trend nationwide is a rise in drug overdose deaths due to <br />heroin and opiate use. <br />“We’ve been hearing about this in the community but the rankings also show us that this is an epidemic <br />for us,” said Simmons, “but we know that there are things that communities can do around this factor and <br />in particular it’s really paying attention to the rates that we are prescribing prescription drugs and thinking <br />about training for our first responders, in terms of responding to these incidents.” <br />Orange County emergency services have begun using the drug Naloxone, which can reverse an opiate <br />overdose. So far, Orange County Emergency Services have successfully reversed four overdoses with <br />the drug.