Town Hall Meetings that are sponsored by the Allegany Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc.(ACASA) and Partners for Prevention in Allegany County focus on current trends that our local communities are facing, dealing with alcohol, tobacco, and other substance abuse. Data gathered from ACASA’s Risk and Protective Survey that is done with 6^th, 8^th, 10^th and 12^th graders in our local schools combined with PPAC’s Community Survey, in conjunction with the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Troopers, and local law enforcement, determines relevant topics on particular substance abuse issues in Allegany County.

If you would like a Town Hall Meeting held in your community please email ppac@alleganycouncil.org.

September 2017 Underage Drinking Town Hall Meeting

The Underage Drinking Town Hall Meeting is a partnership between the Allegany Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc.(ACASA) and Partners for Prevention in Allegany County(PPAC) along with various agencies within Allegany County to educate the community on the issue of underage drinking. The agencies that make up the panel may include: the Department of Social Services, Department of Probation, New York State Troopers, local law enforcement, ACASA’s Clinical and Prevention staff, local elected officials, school representatives, and community members.

Even though the community usually does not hear about it in the media or the issues it causes, alcohol is still the number one drug of choice in Allegany County for youth and adults.  The Town Hall Meetings are an opportunity for community members to become informed about the issues that local agencies face with the use of alcohol and the impact it has on our local communities. There is also time for community members in attendance to ask questions of the panelists.

February 2018 Heroin and Opioid Town Hall Meeting

The Heroin and Opioid Town Hall Meeting was a call to action by community member Rachel Ponka and Cuba-Rushford School District to educate high school students of the dangers of opioid abuse and heroin use. Recently opioid abuse and heroin use has garnered national attention for becoming an epidemic across the United States.  Allegany County is no different as these issues have been reported in Allegany County, but on a smaller scale.  Opioid abuse is a growing concern for the community because young people and adults, who are taking opioids prescribed by their doctor, can become addicted and transition to using heroin. In an effort to keep opioids out of the hands of children and off our streets, there are pill drop boxes located throughout Allegany County.

The various speakers that made up the panel included: Ann Weaver, Community Educator for ACASA, Jon Chaffee, Coalition Coordinator for PPAC, Cuba’s Chief of Police Dustin Burch, Cuba Police’s Chaplin Jeff Giampa, Community Members Amanda Kent and Padraic Gray and Walt Mackney, former New York State Trooper.