Who we are

We aim to partner with all who have been affected by substance use disorder in our community.

CGAC is a collaborative multi-stakeholder organization, which was established over a decade ago as a response to the emerging opioid epidemic in our region.

We are passionate about working within communities to foster coordination, collaboration and communication between organizations, stakeholders & residents across all sectors. We understand that this process is intricate and involves STRATEGY, which is why we aim to work with our members and the community at large to implement evidence based strategies that will result in healthy prosperous communities for all people to live and thrive in.

At the core of our mission is our dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion and the affect of substance use disorder on historically underrepresented populations. Our belief is that not one size fits all when addressing this serious public health issue and that all voices must be heard in order to make real permanent change.

Meetings are held virtually & posted to our Events Calendar.

All are welcome.

GOALS

Collaboration + Coordination
of community wide efforts to reach underserved populations
Raise Awareness + Educate
about current & emerging trends
Plan + Deliver
prevention education & harm reduction activities
Support those in treatment + recovery
education, advocacy & reducing stigma
Data Collection, Analysis & Information Dissemination
reduce duplication of efforts
Seize opportunities to influence policy
ensure the voices of all who have been affected are heard

Strategies for community Change

Providing Information + Enhancing skills
Data presentations, trainings & workshops
Enhance access + reduce barriers
Healthcare, housing, justice, education, safety
Changing Consequences
Increasing public recognition, rewards, taxes, citations, fines, revocations/loss of privileges
Environmental Changes
Reduce risk & Enhance Protection
Policy Change
public 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!

CGAC is Committed to Providing Education in a Multitude of Forums.

Would you like us to provide a presentation or Narcan Training in your community?

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