Drug-Free Community Coalitions Unite to Fight Substance Abuse

WATERTOWN, NEW YORK – Acting United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and more than 100 community coalition members are meeting in Watertown today to unite in their fight against substance abuse and its devastation on individuals, their families and their communities. 

This is the first meeting of the Northern and Central New York Community Coalition Summit.  The purpose of the summit is for coalitions to gain strength through uniting their forces in prevention, intervention and treatment, and to launch a region-wide 2018 January Media Blitz.

Acting United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith said: “The deadliest drug epidemic our nation has experienced has hit upstate communities hard.  In 2016, 399 people died from overdoses involving prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl in the 32 counties of the Northern District of New York.  There has been a resurgence of the local production of methamphetamine in small clandestine laboratories, with nearly 3 of 4 in New York occurring in a Northern District county.  And cases addressing the influx of dangerous synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones continue.  But there is hope -- in the remedial and preventive effects of strong law enforcement, which reduces the importation and supply of these drugs, deters dealers, and spreads information that helps people understand the danger, and in partnerships with community coalitions that bring together people of all walks of life to focus on education, intervention, and treatment.  We are working together to help those who are suffering find health and avert tragedy.”

Resources for the summit were provided by the Central New York Prevention Resource Center – New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS); Pivot Alcohol & Substance Abuse Council of Jefferson County; the Seaway Valley Prevention Council; the Alliance for Better Communities, Watertown; the Massena Drug Free Community Coalition; the New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.

More than 100 members of community coalitions and partnerships for substance abuse prevention are attending the one-day summit in Watertown.  The summit will also be livestreamed on the United To Fight It Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/United2FightIt) for those who cannot make the trip.  Attendees and viewers will learn of current drug trends in the region from a panel made up of the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Attorney’s Office, Jefferson County District Attorney, and the Massena Police Chief.  They will hear from substance abuse prevention and education expert Michael Nerney, who will share advice on how to help the general public understand and respond to these deadly addictions. 

In the afternoon, a media panel made up of television, radio and print communications leaders will discuss how community coalitions can partner with their local media outlets throughout the month of January 2018, to blanket their communities with stories and information on substance abuse prevention and addiction. 

Coalitions attending the summit include: the Akwesasne Coalition for Community Empowerment, St. Regis; Alliance for Better Communities, Watertown; Cayuga County Drug Free Community Coalition; Chenango Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition; Essex County Heroin & Opioid Prevention Coalition (ECHO); Lake Placid/Wilmington Connection Youth and Communities Coalition; Massena Drug Free Coalition; Nopiates, Rensselaer County; Ogdensburg Community Group; Oneida County Communities that Care (CTC); Oswego County Prevention Coalition; Project Save Our Community, Harrisville; Rensselaer County Heroin Task Force, Troy; TRACs Coalition, Berlin Central School District; Tri-Town Coalition on Substance Abuse Prevention; Troy Drug Free Community Coalition; YEAH! Coalition, Lowville; and Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, Syracuse.

Community substance abuse coalitions wishing to receive further information on how to participate in the 2018 January Media Blitz should contact Marilyn Morey, Community Outreach Coordinator, United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, at 518-431-0247 or marilyn.morey@usdoj.gov.