The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #57073

Patricia Perry, RN, PhD, Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc., NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, 1450 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203, 518-485-1136, patriciaperry@oasas.state.ny.us

The alcohol and substance abuse treatment system in New York was significantly impacted on September 11, 2001. Two methadone treatment centers were destroyed at ground zero, clients and counselors were unable to access treatment facilities because transportation was blocked, bridges linking Manhattan with other boroughs were closed, treatment programs lost revenue, and alcohol and substance use increased after the attack. Like so many other agencies, the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) did not have a disaster plan in place to address the impact of this unforeseen terrorist attack on clients, providers, and state and federal policy-makers. Following the attack on the World Trace Center, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment funded a ‘Lessons Learned’ project in which prevention and treatment providers, state and federal agency staff, and clients were interviewed to respond to the questions, “How should an AOD agency respond? How should Federal agencies respond?” Further, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provided funding to OASAS to disseminate the lessons learned and to develop strategies for future disaster planning. The newly developed NYS OASAS All Hazards Disaster Plan integrates preparedness, response, and recovery activities among OASAS, the NYS Emergency Management Office, Office of Mental Health, county agencies, and the federal government. The plan was shared with providers through a series of regional forms and their feedback was integrated into the plan. This presentation will summarize the plan’s evolution and exhibit the key elements of the NYS OASAS All Hazards Disaster Plan.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how lessons learned from 9/11 were used to develop a state agency’s “All Hazard’ disaster plan.
• Identify the critical components of New York State’s chemical dependence disaster preparedness, response, and recovery activities.
• Outline the key elements of an integrated all hazards disaster plan among the state’s emergency management office, mental health office, counties, treatment providers, and the federal government.

Keywords: Disasters, Access

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.