



Florence, Alabama
Florence, AL Profile
Florence, AL, population 36,264 , is located
in Alabama's Lauderdale county,
about 62.2 miles from Huntsville and 101.7 miles from Birmingham.
It is Estimated in recent years the population of Florence has been declining at an annual rate of less than one percent.
Reports show that during 2003 property crime levels in the Florence area were higher than Alabama's average.
The same data shows violent crime levels to be lower than the Alabama average.
Florence Statistics
Florence Gender Information
Males in Florence: 16,557 (46%)
Females in Florence: 19,707 (54%)
As % of Population in Florence
Race Diversity in Florence
White: 78%
African American: 19%
Asian: 1%
Other/Mixed: 2%
As % of Population in Florence
Age Diversity in Florence
Median Age in Florence: 36.9 (Males in Florence: 34.2, Females in Florence: 39.3)
Florence Males Under 20: 13%
Florence Females Under 20: 13%
Florence Males 20 to 40: 14%
Florence Females 20 to 40: 15%
Florence Males 40 to 60: 11%
Florence Females 40 to 60: 13%
Florence Males Over 60: 8%
Florence Females Over 60: 14%
Economics in Florence
Florence Household Average Size: 2.2 people
Florence Median Household Income: $ 28,330
Florence Median Value of Homes: $ 82,700
Law Enforcement in Florence
Reported crimes in the Florence area during 2003:
Murder and non-negligent man-slaughter: 0
Forcible rape: 15
Robbery: 42
Aggravated assault: 109
Violent crime events per 100,000 people: 462
Burglary: 304
Larceny-theft: 1,241
Motor vehicle theft: 56
Arson: 12
Property crime events per 100,000 people: 4,456
Florence Location Information
Elevation: 570 feet above sea level.
Land Area: 23.5 Square Miles.
Water Area: 0.1 Square Miles.
Nearby Towns & Cities to Florence
Sheffield 2.7 Miles
Muscle Shoals 3.8 Miles
Tuscumbia 5.0 Miles
Underwood-Petersville 5.1 Miles
St Florian 5.9 Miles
Killen 9.1 Miles
Leighton 10.9 Miles
Littleville 14.5 Miles
Iron City 16.4 Miles
Cherokee 17.0 Miles
Big Cities Nearest Florence
(Population 100,000+)
Huntsville 62.2 Miles
Birmingham 101.7 Miles
Nashville 107.0 Miles
Clarksville 121.0 Miles
Chattanooga 135.3 Miles
Memphis 136.6 Miles
Montgomery 186.1 Miles
Atlanta 201.5 Miles
Evansville 219.7 Miles
Columbus 223.9 Miles
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Facts
In 1986 Congress established mandatory minimum sentences for convicted dealers, responding to public outcry that judges sentencing cocaine and crack offenders were too lenient. Lawmakers made a distinction between powdered cocaine and crack: The mandatory minimum sentence for possession of five hundred grams of powdered cocaine was five years in prison. The same sentence was mandated for possession of just five grams of crack. Although the stated objective of these mandatory minimum sentences was to reduce the amount of cocaine and crack available on the street, the laws generated a great deal of controversy. First, many community leaders question whether harsher sentences for crack offenses have actually reduced the volume of crack. According to the NHSDA, there are about six hundred thousand regular crack users in the United States and this number has remained stable for the past ten years. Some believe that the stabilized rate is evidence that mandatory minimum sentencing has been successful. Although the crime is viewed differently among states, in every state it is considered a crime to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above 0.08 percent. Known as a "per se" law and most commonly called DUI, the crime also goes by Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Operating Under the Influence (OUI), Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII), among a long list of other variations. Drunk drivers are likely to hit the car in front of them because they are unable to correctly perceive the distance between their own vehicle and someone else's. They may hit cars that are traveling alongside them for the same reason and/or because it is difficult for drunk drivers to stay in one lane or to follow a direct path. The inability to see and/or correctly interpret traffic signs causes many drunk driving accidents. The most common road sign related accident occurs when a drunk driver does not yield when he or she is supposed to and drives in the way of oncoming traffic. Crime commonly begins as a means to pay for drugs. 6. In addition to the embarrassment of the downhill slide and unethical behavior, the person's body now craves cocaine. The user is now obsessed with getting and using this drug, and will do anything to avoid the pain of withdrawal. The ability to get "high" decreases as the user's body adapts to the cocaine. He or she must take more and more in this downward spiral. The invisible line of addiction has been crossed and the person is now a cocaine addict. |
Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is defined as the chronic or habitual use of any chemical substance to alter states of body or mind for other than medically warranted purposes. Drug abuse is a problem which has an effect on people of all income levels,
ages, and stations in life. Quite often the last person to see that there is a
problem is the drug abuser them self. Every year, more and more people become
drug addicts in their pursuit to get "high".
Detox
Detox is necessary when an individual through their chronic use of drugs or alcohol has developed an addiction. The objective of detox is to help the individual achieve a drug and alcohol free state. Detox is intended to relieve the physical symptoms of withdrawal and helps prepare the individual for entry into drug rehabilitation. Therefore, the ultimate goal of detox is preparation for long term recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
Residential Treatment
Residential treatment offers intensive drug addiction help over a period of weeks or months. This form of treatment has some advantages over out-patient treatment, although it may not be suitable for everyone. For example, those who are responsible for caring for young children may be better suited to attendance at an out patient treatment program. Residential treatment offers a safe, drug and alcohol-free environment where individuals can confront their own drug addiction and associated issues, with the help of qualified staff. Therapy usually consists of a mixture of group counseling, individual counseling and an introduction to the principles of a drug recovery program.
Drug Overdose
A drug overdose occurs when you consume more drugs than your body can tolerate. Drug users are constantly flirting with the risk of a drug overdose. There is a
fine line between the high they're seeking and serious injury or death. While many victims of drug overdose recover without long term effects, there
can be serious consequences. Some drug overdoses cause the failure of major
organs like the kidneys or liver, or failure of whole systems like the
respiratory or circulatory systems. Patients who survive drug overdose may need
kidney dialysis, kidney or liver transplant, or ongoing care as a result of
heart failure, stroke, or coma. Death can occur in almost any drug overdose
situation, particularly if treatment is not started immediately.
Tolerance
Tolerance to a drug takes place when an individual is exposed to the same drug repeatedly and begins to build up an resistance to the drugs effects. The body then adapts and develops a tolerance for the drug. The addiction that is produced is so powerful that it creates cravings in the user. These cravings for the drug are the result of its impact on the individual's memory with feelings of pleasantness and euphoria which the individual has come to associate with the taking of the drug.
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