NORWICH – A coalition bent on decreasing the use of heroin in Chenango County has taken on a more formal and organized approach in combating the drug epidemic at a local level.
Initially started as a one-time round-table discussion among area leaders in business, nonprofit, and human service organizations last September, the Chenango County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (formerly the Heroin Task Force) has now evolved into a structured organization with 51 members and a mission of bringing together individuals and organizations to promote a clean, safe, and addiction-free community.
The coalition is the first ever multi-pronged approach in the county to thwart the heroin problem and its sweeping effects in the community.
“We have the general goal of educating and lowering the use of heroin in Chenango County through a broad representation across various agencies and businesses,” said Marcas Flindt, director of the Chenango County Department of Public Health and elected chairman of the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Steering Committee. “We want to be data driven and outcome based to try to have some impact on a community level of the heroin epidemic. But right now, we’re still in the early stages. We needed to have an organized structure first.”
The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition was born of a significant increase in Hepatitis C in Chenango County. In 2014, the Chenango County Department of Health noted a spike in cases of Hepatitis C from an average of six to eight cases per year to nearly 170 cases per year. The department linked that increase to IV use and the rising heroin epidemic here at home and throughout the region.
In response, the Health Department called a meeting that was attended by business reps, police, the sheriff’s office, schools, and public and mental health officials. “There seemed to be such interest that the group wanted to meet again. That large group has met about five times since then,” said Flindt.
Today, the coalition has formed three subgroups focused on areas of prevention, treatment, and harm reduction. The goal, said Flindt, is to seek out measures that educate and ultimately slow the spread of heroin use. Groups are currently exploring options that may include items like increasing the availability of the heroin antagonist Suboxone in the county, and expanding a mobile needle exchange run by the Southern Tier Aids Program.
The coalition has also formed a seven-member steering committee consisting of one representative from the following areas: schools, law enforcement, public health, mental health, community service organizations, and local government. The committee also has one medical practitioner.
Having a more organized structure may open opportunities to eventually apply for state grant funds, said Flindt. Moreover, there’s a chance the coalition may get help from the New York State Heroin Task Force in the form of educational materials and possibly roadside billboards to heighten awareness of the wide-reaching effects of heroin.
“We have a good group of people from all walks of life that have come together to address the problems that we’re seeing with heroin,” said Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride, who also serves on the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Steering Committee.
“There was a time when everyone knew you could make a lot of mistakes in life, but that you could never touch heroin; and if you did, you’re life was going to be ruined,” McBride added. “Unfortunately, that message isn’t getting out to our kids, and the task force is trying to make sure that’s not the case.”
Although the coalition has yet to take formal action, the organizational structure is in place, Flindt said, and ideas are likely to be implemented in the coming weeks.