Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’ Collaboratory, a public health resource committed to serving Albany’s South End community, has received a community grant to provide Naloxone (Narcan) training and other services. This news comes on the heels of the launch of a new program to make Naloxone (or NARCAN) more readily available in the community.
“The opioid epidemic represents one of the most pressing public health crises of our time,” said Albany County Executive Dan McCoy. “No amount of money will change what has happened, but these funds will empower local organizations to continue their vital work to address the root causes of opioid addiction and support those in recovery.”
The more than $2M funding, from Albany County’s Opioid Settlement Fund, was awarded to 14 total organizations focused on opioid use disorder prevention, treatment or recovery, as well as supportive services such as housing and transportation. ACPHS received $166,080 to conduct its services.
“We’re so pleased to have received this funding to pursue opioid harm reduction in Albany County’s most vulnerable neighborhoods,” said Collaboratory Director, Dr. Stacy Pettigrew. “As our services help community members take control of their health and well-being, The Collaboratory will utilize this grant to help decrease opioid deaths by increasing public knowledge of and access to naloxone, a life-saving medication.”
Jacqueline Dwyer, PharmD, The Collaboratory's public health pharmacist, will lead the educational campaign designed to provide individuals with the opportunity to choose to break the cycle of addiction and a second chance to change one's life.
“The Collaboratory seeks to remove the obstacles and stigma around this medication, furthering access and increasing distribution throughout Albany County,” said Dr. Dwyer.
The Collaboratory will leverage the grant to expand its harm-reduction services and to conduct research to increase understanding of barriers to receiving treatment for opioid disorders in the Capital District. It will host open drop-in hours one day each week for community members to receive naloxone training, naloxone kits, and fentanyl test strips at the Albany Housing Authority location at 200 S. Pearl Street in Albany. These events will teach community members to recognize the signs of an overdose and how to administer overdose reversal medication, empowering them to save the lives of friends and loved ones.
In addition, the ACPHS Collaboratory will host two naloxone distribution events each month at local churches and community organizations accessible via bus transportation such as the Albany Housing Authority, Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region, Capital Area Urban League, and AVillage. Each of these training and distribution events will take place at various locations around the City of Albany, allowing the Collaboratory to target diverse and unique audiences connected to these organizations.
The Collaboratory will also conduct a survey to identify obstacles to receiving addiction recovery services for different subpopulations as well as client perceptions of their experiences. The collection of this data will inform future recovery efforts and policy. The study will be conducted by Dr. Pettigrew, a trained epidemiologist, and Jacqueline Cleary, PharmD, BCACP, and an opioid use disorder specialist.
About Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Founded in 1881, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) is a private, independent college dedicated to educating the next generation of leaders to improve the health of society. ACPHS offers 14 undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs including an online version of our Master of Biomedical Sciences as well as the only Master of Biomanufacturing and Bioprocessing in the state. Students have myriad opportunities to extend what they are learning in the classroom at the Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training (CBET), at student-supported pharmacies in underserved communities, and at the Collaboratory, a public health resource designed to alleviate community health disparities. ACPHS ranks #1 in New York State for best return on investment by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce and was graded an A+ for value by Niche. For more information, visit www.acphs.edu.