Isabel Byon: 0:00

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, or OASAS, provides this podcast as a public service. Thoughts and opinions do not necessarily represent or reflect those of the agency or state. This is Addiction: The Next Step.

Jerry Gretzinger: 0:17

Welcome back to Addiction, the Next Step, a podcast brought to you by the New York State Offices of Addiction Services and Supports. I'm Jerry Gretzinger, your host, and today we're talking about something a little bit different. We're going to talk a little bit about a moment in recent history and how that may have impacted or affected some really important addiction services and supports that are being delivered in the western part of New York, specifically Buffalo. We are joined today by Robin Mann. She's from the Prevention Council, the executive director out there in Erie County, and thank you for sitting down with us today.

Robin Mann: 0:49

Thank you for having me.

Jerry Gretzinger: 0:50

So that moment in history I want to talk about, we're going back to 2022. It was May 14th and that's when there was a mass shooting at the Tops supermarket there, right, and you know we've been talking about that before the episode started. But you know not to kind of go back and have to revisit the entire experience. But I mean, you live there, you shop there. This is something that affected every aspect of life in that region.

Robin Mann: 1:16

Absolutely, it did Absolutely. So the Tops in that area is the only grocery store in that area, so that's where the residents go to shop, and you know for it to be targeted for what it was targeted for just being racially motivated shook up the entire neighborhood, right? Because it's the only store there grocery store and you're not safe in your own community because of it the color of your skin. So, yes, it devastated the community for sure.

Jerry Gretzinger: 1:49

put it in the context of the services that are provided by the Prevention Council, and I want to have you talk more about that broadly, about what it does, what it provides, in a few minutes. But how did that, what impact did it have on what the Prevention Council does day in and day out? How did it affect the clients who go to?

Robin Mann: 2:07

it. So we do prevention, right, and the whole notion is to about making healthy choices and healthy decisions for yourself and your family and how those choices impact yourself, your family and the community. So we do a lot of education, we do a lot of skill building, and it just became a little more relevant at that time because you know you're talking about a traumatic experience. That was one of them, right, one of those that are totally out of your control.

Robin Mann: 2:41

So we work in schools and we work in the schools around that community and we work in the schools around that community, and we were just present, we were there for the students. We talked about how to deal with stress, how to deal with anxiety, because, again, the shooting was racially motivated and that's not something you can change, right? You are who you are and so the uncertainty, the fear, how does a child, how does an adult, how does someone of color move forward knowing that I have a target on my back in my community, in my yard, and I'm doing something as innocent as grocery shopping, right? So we just really try to be more of a presence to the community, more of a presence in the schools that we were in within that community, help out and volunteer where we could as a staff to help the residents in the community.

Jerry Gretzinger: 3:36

And so I would think too, with being familiar with the world of prevention work today. Maybe not everybody is, and we'll talk about that now. It sounds like you kind of keep doing what you were doing and probably do more of it, because you know we're here on the OASAS podcasts and people think, okay, it's addiction services and supports. But really the work of prevention now goes beyond what people may think was like just say no, just don't use drugs, and that's the end of it. But it's not anymore.

Jerry Gretzinger: 4:04

There's so much more involved in it.

Robin Mann: 4:06

Absolutely, it is so. In the world of prevention, we teach social skills, we teach the signs and symptoms, we teach the behaviors that come with substance use, so that people have heightened awareness of what it is. We really work very hard to minimize the stigma as much as we can so that people who are in need can, you know, receive the services that they need. We try to help individuals pull back the cover on it being, you know, a family thing and what happens in this house stays in this house, which then means sometimes people don't get the services they need.

Robin Mann: 4:48

So it's teaching individuals and normalizing and making it okay to get help if you need help. But also helping individuals understand

Robin Mann: 4:56

that you don't have to use drugs and alcohol when you're stressed or when you're depressed or lonely or bored or just because, right, like, there's other alternatives. But also understanding one's, maybe predisposition to addiction. What does

Robin Mann: 5:11

that look like? Understanding how drugs impacts the body of all ages, not just, you know, kids, but from our little little ones all the way to our, you know, seniors, right? What does that look like? How easy is it to become addicted for individuals, you know? So, again, making healthy choices.

Robin Mann: 5:31

So it's not just saying no, but it's making choices that are informed choices and informed decisions about you and your family.

Jerry Gretzinger: 5:38

And some of the skills that you just discussed certainly have you know much more application than when it comes to substances, and I'm sure that incident at Tops was an example as to how helpful and useful to people.

Robin Mann: 5:51

Absolutely.

Jerry Gretzinger: 5:52

Robin, I want to thank you for sitting down and chatting with us today. I think the work you're doing out there is great. If people have questions or want to get involved or think they might be able to benefit from some of the services the prevention services where can they go? How can they find you online?

Robin Mann: 6:05

So we service Erie County but we are connected with many counties throughout New York State so you don't have to be in Erie County to need assistance. But you can give us a call and we can direct you in the area that you live in for any services, whether prevention, treatment, early intervention, recovery, harm reduction, whatever services you might need. We can link you to that. But they can call 716-831-2298. And they can just ask for anyone. They can ask for me or just say I'm calling because I need some help and the person who answers will help them or connect them with someone that they can contact. great

Jerry Gretzinger: 6:42

Great. Thank you so much, and I'm going to share OASAS information as well, because we have a lot of services and supports we can connect you with there. Additionally, it's oasas. ny. gov, oasas. ny. gov, our Hope Line. 877-8-HOPE-NY. Robin Mann. Thank you once again.

Robin Mann: 6:58

Thank you.

Jerry Gretzinger: 6:58

For sitting down with us today and thank you for checking out this episode of the podcast. I'm Jerry Gretzinger. Until we talk to you again, be well.