RENSSELAER COUNTY TO RECOGNIZE ONE DECADE OF LANDMARK COUNTY EFFORT TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST OPIOID ADDICTION AND ABUSE, SAYS COUNTY EXECUTIVE STEVE MCLAUGHLIN
COUNTY HEROIN COALITION TO RECOGNIZE 10 YEARS IN SERVICE TOMORROW AT MEETING AT HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Rensselaer County will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the county’s Heroin Coalition, which has given hope, information and avenues for recovery to many, County Executive Steve McLaughlin announced.
The recognition of the decade of work will take place at the Coalition’s meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18 at the Bulmer Telecommunications Center at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. The meeting runs from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
County Executive McLaughlin said the decade of service by the Coalition is noteworthy for the county and even the region.
“Rensselaer County has responded to the opioid epidemic with useful information, advice and strategy and opportunities for recovery and new starts. The work by the Coalition has saved lives and helped so many individuals and families,” said McLaughlin.
The Coalition has been the launching pad for a telephone help line to help those struggling with addiction, supported an initiative by McLaughlin in 2021 to require drug deactivation bags to be provided by pharmacies to help with safe disposal, among other initiatives. An effort introduced by McLaughlin to provide naloxone and testing strips free and without questions by the county was also supported by the Coalition.
The Coalition’s efforts also include an email list that includes over 2,000 regular recipients.
The county’s efforts in fighting opioid addiction were recognized in 2021 by the National Association of City and County Health Officials.
“The Coalition has been a place where ideas and strategies are produced, and a place where new initiatives to fight back against addiction have also been supported. The work by the Coalition truly makes a difference as we work to end addiction, abuse and tragedy,” McLaughlin said.
The Heroin Coalition was started in 2016, and sought to bring together health professionals, educators, medical professionals, parents, law enforcement and members of the county Health Department and Mental Health Department for meetings to share information and devise strategies as opioid deaths and overdoses increased. Involvement by recovering addicts was welcomed.
The first meeting included about 10 participants and was held at the Commission on Economic Opportunity in Troy. Meetings were then located at the county Department of Social Services administrative offices in North Greenbush.
As participation grew, and also due to pandemic issues, the meetings were moved to the Bulmer Telecommunications Center at HVCC. Meetings now include several dozen attendees, including participants from throughout the region.
Meetings are held every six weeks and neighboring counties and communities have often visited the meetings to see the work in action and get ideas for efforts in their own areas, noted county Public Health Director Len Claus. The county’s Heroin Coalition is the largest effort in the region.
“The Heroin Coalition brings together a diverse group of people from different backgrounds but united with the one goal of ending opioid addiction. We have heard from so many how the Coalition meetings gave information that was useful in avoiding overdoses, supported education and prevention efforts and gave information and hope at a time when it was needed most,” said Claus.