OUR WORK

Our mission is to prevent youth substance misuse and fatal overdose in our region through a combination of evidence based strategies at the local level.

We are determined to enhance collaboration across all sectors in an effort to collectively address substance use and it’s impacts.

We envision a community in which all individuals are supported to live and thrive.

Grants

Our Goals & Impact

  1. Awareness & Education: Increase public awareness of the negative consequences of substance use/misuse, promote education on safe practices, available resources, and current trends. Collaborate with community organizations to enhance protective factors, reduce risk factors, and support families through evidence-based programs, environmental prevention practices, and outreach efforts.

  2. Collaboration & Access: Establish multi-sector partnerships to collectively expand access to local resources for Prevention, Harm Reduction, Treatment Options and Recovery Supports. This includes offering free narcan trainings and test strips, promoting drug take-back days, distributing medication lock boxes, and disposal kits.

  3. Advocacy & Policy: Advocate for policy changes at the local, state, and federal levels by identifying and communicating community factors contributing to substance use within specific populations.

What we offer

  • Awareness campaigns

  • LGBTQ+ Support groups

  • Youth programming and events

  • Advocacy and policy initiatives

  • Free Narcan trainings and supplies

  • Free medication safety and disposal kits

  • Community education, presentations, workshops and guest speakers for schools, organizations, etc.

  • Linkage to local resources for treatment options and recovery support

Training & Workshop Offerings

  • TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) is a program designed to recognize signs of intoxication, intervene in potentially dangerous situations, and prevent drunk driving and underage drinking. 

  • Invitation To Change provides evidence-based tools for change to everyone who cares about a person struggling with substance use.

  • Stanford Reach Lab Prevention Education Curriculum evidence-informed and evidence-based or students to understand basic information about different drugs, gain awareness of deceptive marketing strategies used by manufacturers to lure youth to use, and gain skills to refuse experimentation and use of drug use

  • Talk Saves Lives is an introduction to Suicide Prevention is AFSP’s flagship suicide prevention education program that covers the scope of this leading cause of death, what the research has found to be the warning signs and risk factors of suicide, and the strategies that prevent it.

  • Our Stories Have Power is a recovery messaging training developed by Faces & Voices of Recovery, focusing on equipping individuals with the skills and confidence to share their recovery stories effectively

  • July 2025, Waterfront Wednesdays CGAC Concessions

  • June 2025, We Are Awesome Resource Fair, Chatham

  • June 2025, Our Stories Have Power Training, Community Health Council

  • May 2025, Mocktail Sip & Draw at MadeXHudson (Catskill)

  • April 2025, Psychedelics in Perspective, partnership presentation and panel discussion with Spark of Hudson and The New Health Institute

  • April 2025, SUD Prevention Training at CO-HOST Retreat for youth serving organizations in Columbia County

  • April 2025, Community Fridge Cleanup Day, Catskill

  • April 2025, Dual County Drug Take Back Day, DEA Drug Take Back Day, Cairo, Chatham, Windham, Coxsackie

  • April 2025, Like We Care Fishbowl Convo, partnership event with MHACG Clubhouse, Prattsville Art Center, Operation Unite, youth led event, Prattsville.

  • February 2025, Spoken Word with Rajnii Eddins, partnership with MHACG Clubhouse, Operation Unite, Foreland in Catskill and Spark of Hudson, 3 day workshop honoring Black History for youth/young adults during spring break in Hudson and Catskill.

  • January 2025, Lock Your Edibles Media Campaign & Outreach, lock boxes and information to local cannabis dispensaries encouraging safe storage practices, Catskill, Cairo, and Coxsackie.

  • September 2024-April 2025, Clear Mind Sticker Design Contest, youth aged 12-18 created “clear mind designs” 6 winners chosen!

  • November 2024-Present, Queer Mind Connection Network, partnership with MHACG Clubhouse, Columbia Pathways to Recovery and ArtLife717, offering supportive connection to LGBTQ+ community members in Hudson, Catskill, and Chatham.

  • October 2024, Dual County Drug Take Back Day, partnership with GC Family Planning, Columbia Pathways to Recovery, MHACG Clubhouse, with locations in Cairo, Coxsackie, Chatham and Windham.

  • September 2024- Present, RX Medication Safety Kit, partnership with locally owned pharmacies, Kelly’s, Windham Pharmacy, Greene County Medical Arts to offer medication lock boxes, Narcan, and drug destruction bags to customers picking up opioid scrips.

Projects To Date

  • August 2024, Matt Butler Community Activation Show, partnership with Columbia County Mental Health, Spark of Hudson and Hudson Police Department.

  • August 2024-December 2024, Nalox Box Design Initiative, partnership with MHACG Clubhouse and GC Family Planning designed and placed outside nalox boxes in the community.

  • November 2024, Safe Use Radio Campaign, CGAC Media Workgroup, collectively wrote and recorded six radio ads promoting harm reduction, medication safety, while addressing stigma with voiceover by individuals in recovery, aired on iHeartRadio.

  • August 2024, Youth Summer Social Event, partnership with Mountaintop Cares Coalition, hosted a family fun event with games, music, dinner, access to stakeholders, education and resources in a substance free space served 100 individuals (56 youth), Palenville.

  • April 2024, Dual County Drug Take Back Day Event, CGAC hosted two tables in Cairo and Windham.

  • October 2023- December 2023, Narcan in Every Bar/Restaurant partnership with Mountaintop Cares Coalition, Greener Pathways, Columbia Pathways to Recovery and local bars/restaurants throughout both counties.

  • August 2023- December 2023, Youth Spotlight Videos, a collaborative project with Tobacco Free Partnership, MHACG Clubhouse and two local Film Production Companies.

Interested in collabing!? So are we! Fill out our CONTACT US form and tell us what inspires you about building healthy informed communities.