CGAC is a collaborative multi-stakeholder organization, established over a decade ago as a response to the emerging overdose crisis in our region. Our mission is to foster communication and collaboration across all sectors in two counties to expand prevention, ham reduction and support for those needing access to treatment and recovery.
Our work involves a comprehensive approach to prevent youth substance misuse, fatal overdose, and increase awareness for various forms of treatment and local recovery options. We collaborate with community groups, recovery organizations and healthcare partners to address both individual and environmental factors that contribute to substance misuse and fatal overdose. Coalition members meet regularly to assess the needs of the community and work together to implement evidence based strategies.
At the heart of our work is our dedication to Diversity Equity and Inclusion and the importance of including all voices from the community when planning and administering strategies to address substance use disorder.
What we do:
- Needs Assessments and data collection to understand risk and protective factors, local conditions and gaps in services.
- Increase awareness about current drug trends and provide information to the community on how/where to access available resources for substance use disorder.
- Educate all sectors of the community including schools, communities, businesses, local government, civic groups, healthcare, media and beyond about substance use disorder in an effort to reduce stigma.
- Work with recovery organizations to increase programming and fill gaps in services.
Free Supplies Distribution
Community members can contact us or any of our partners to receive a free naloxone, along with education on how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose.
We offer medication lock devices (bags and boxes), drug destruction bags (for anyone who may be homebound), fentanyl and xylazine test strips, and various educational resources for all demographics. We partner with pharmacies to offer medication safety kits for anyone picking up controlled substances.
Educational Events
We coordinate educational events for local organizations, businesses, school district faculty and staff, and beyond. We believe that not one size fits all when presenting educational materials and we will work with the needs of the audience when proving information and materials. We utilize all data informed curriculum, which has been cited by research backed sources and include guest speakers with lived experience.
If you are interested in getting involved with CGAC please reach out! It truly takes a village.
Meetings are held virtually & posted to our Events Calendar.
All are welcome.
GOALS
Collaboration + Coordinationof community wide efforts to reach underserved populations
Raise Awareness + Educateabout current & emerging trends
Plan + Deliverprevention education & harm reduction activities
Support those in treatment + recoveryeducation, advocacy & reducing stigma
Data Collection, Analysis & Information Disseminationreduce duplication of efforts
Seize opportunities to influence policyensure the voices of all who have been affected are heard
Strategies for community Change
Providing Information + Enhancing skillsData presentations, trainings & workshops
Enhance access + reduce barriersHealthcare, housing, justice, education, safety
Changing ConsequencesIncreasing public recognition, rewards, taxes, citations, fines, revocations/loss of privileges
Environmental ChangesReduce risk & Enhance Protection
Policy Changepublic policy actions, systems change within government, communities and organizations
Current Members of the CGAC Include:
YouthParentsCommunitiesYouth Serving Organizations
Mental HealthService Providers
TreatmentRecoveryProviders
Individualswho use drugsor have been affected
HealthcarePublic HealthPharmacies
Education
LawEnforcementProbationCorrections
CivicVolunteerOrganizations
We aim to recruit and enlist new members by conducting targeted, often one-on-one outreach to key stakeholders, organizing public education events and creating a “speakers bureau” to present to civic organizations such as rotary clubs, firehouses, etc.
The Columbia-Greene Addiction Coalition wants to engage all sectors of our communities, and that’s where you come in!
Contact Us today, to see how you or your organization can get involved!
Our History
Our organization was formed in the summer of 2013 as the “Columbia-Greene Controlled Substance Awareness Task Force”.
Initiated by Columbia Memorial Hospital, our members included Columbia and Greene County Directors of Community Services, Columbia and Greene County Health Departments, Columbia and Greene County Sheriff’s Departments, NYS Police, District Attorneys for Columbia and Greene Counties, Twin County Recovery Services, Healthcare Providers, and Educators.
In June of 2018, the task force was renamed the “Columbia-Greene Addiction Coalition”.
Past activities of the coalition include:
- Two education and outreach dinners.
- In-classroom prevention programming coupled with a poster contest in multiple schools, in both Columbia and Greene Counties.
- Safe disposal boxes for prescription medications at multiple locations in Columbia and Greene Counties.
- Improved guidelines and processes for substance use contracts, urine drug screening, scales of functional pain assessments, opioid risk tools, and protocols for treating narcotics patients system-wide.
- Foraged positive working relationships between the health system and outside providers to ensure seamless transitions of care for shared clientele.
- Increased communication between providers, streamlining efforts to reduce duplication to save lives and money.
- From 2019-2023 closely worked with the HEALing Communities Study led by Columbia University and the National Institute for Drug Abuse to prevent opioid overdose deaths.
- Narcan trainings for communities.
- 2023 became 501(c)3 nonprofit, hired Executive Director
- July 2023 Awarded the OASAS Prevention Coalition Grant
- September 2023 Awarded the Drug Free Communities Grant through the CDC/HHS
- September 2023-December 2023: Youth Clubhouse Spotlight Videos on Harm Reduction
- November 2023: Ichabod Crane Freshman/ Senior Seminar on Substance Use Disorder with Tobacco-Free, Twin County Recovery Services and MHACG Youth Clubhouses
- December 2023: Prevention Workgroup, Holiday Narcan Blitz for Bars/restaurants
- April 2024: Partnered with local law enforcement for Drug Take-Back Day in Greene County
