In a recent post, I relayed the many initiatives Saratoga County has undertaken to provide new resources for individuals and families struggling with drug addiction. The next significant step in this battle fulfills an ongoing goal from 2023. As Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee in recent years I have been proud to work with so many tremendous professionals at the County. A priority in the effort to provide new resources for people in Saratoga County, was to establish two Certified Recovery Peer Advocate positions that will partner directly with our schools in the County. This initiative passed the first phase with unanimous approval by the Health and Human Services Committee. I expect this initiative will receive full Board of Supervisors approval later this month. The CRPAs will work with School Resource Officers and staff at the schools to help individuals and families. Having referral options available to our schools will be an important element of the effort to assist students who are suffering from drug addiction. Below are some of the other important advancements we have made the last two years in this fight.
Conducted dozens of Narcan training and distribution events throughout the County over the past year, resulting in more than 1,600 people trained, nearly 6,000 Narcan kits distributed, more than 2,200 fentanyl test strips distributed, and more than 1,400 Xylazine test strips distributed to community partners and community members.
• Partnered with the Prevention Council to offer the help of a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate available for referrals from the Sheriff’s Office Second Chance Program and the very successful Veterans’ Peer to Peer Program.
• Installed Naloxboxes in publicly accessible areas throughout the County.
• Brought in nationally recognized speakers, Chris Herron and Stephen Hill to speak to local high school students and community members about substance use prevention and recovery.
• Established Family Navigator and Certified Recovery Peer Advocate positions in partnership with the Prevention Council to help people navigate available addiction services in Saratoga County.
• Invested in a state-of-the-art Spectrometer that will be used to identify the components of illicit substances that are harming our residents, which will assist in our repose efforts.
• Met with families and advocates to better understand their needs and priorities, which has helped us in developing programs and services to assist County residents and families struggling with substance use disorder.
• Purchased drug disposal systems which are distributed with each Narcan training to encourage proper disposal of unused substances.
Clifton Park and Beyond 