Resources For Communities
RHA Prevention Resource Centers participates in various collaborative efforts and community activities across Western North Carolina.
Here are some of the community activities
RHA Prevention provides and participates in:
- Drugs 101 Presentations
- Opioid Presentation
- Professional Development Trainings
- Developmental Assets Trainings Download PDF
- Medication Take Back and Lockbox Events
- Technical Assistance regarding Substances and Prevention Practices
- Tobacco/Nicotine Initiatives, including Merchant Education
- Advocacy for Policy Reform
- Faith Based Community Outreach
- Red Ribbon Week Events Learn More
- National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week Learn More
- Health Fair and Recovery Events Tabling
- Community Forums and Guest Speakers
- Underage Drinking Prevention Initiatives, including Merchant Education
- Social Hosting Education Learn More
- Media Campaigns for Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
Community Coalitions
RHA Prevention is a partner in many coalitions and community initiatives in the counties we serve across Western NC:
Alexander County
Contact: For more information about prevention resources and community initiatives in Alexander County, please call Bryan Austin at 828-348-2641.
Avery County
Contact: For more information about prevention resources and community initiatives in Alexander County, please call Bryan Austin at 828-348-2641.
Partnership For Substance Free Youth in Buncombe County
The Partnership for Substance Free Youth in Buncombe County is a coalition of K-12 schools, private businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies in Buncombe County and greater Asheville area that is committed to keeping children away from alcohol and drugs. We recognize that the health and safety of our children is and should be a community effort. Joining forces with families throughout our community, we can take this important step in protecting the futures of our children.
For more resources, visit The Partnership for Substance Free Youth in Buncombe County web page.
Prescription Drug Drop Boxes in Buncombe County
There are three prescription drug drop boxes in Buncombe County
County Sheriff’s Office
339 New Leicester Hwy (in the lobby)
County Courthouse
60 Court Plaza (lobby)
Asheville Police Department
100 Court Plaza (lobby)
For more information
follow us on Facebook.
Burke County
Contact: For more information about prevention resources and community initiatives in Alexander County, please call Bryan Austin at 828-348-2641.
Caldwell County
Contact: For more information about prevention resources and community initiatives in Caldwell County, please call Bryan Austin at 828-348-2641.
Gaston County
Gaston Adult Partnership:
The mission of the Gaston Adult Partnership (GAP) is to promote the sharing of resources and accountability across agencies and programs on behalf of adults who may have issues related to mental health, substance use and intellectual disabilities.
Contact: Chairperson Maceo Mayo III, CSAPC, CSAC(R), CPSS. Call 704-458-4458.
Gaston Community Collaborative:
Partners’ System of Care Department hosts System of Care Collaborative meetings throughout the Partners’ service area. Collaborative groups identify gaps in services, develop partnerships with agencies, promote resource development, offer technical assistance to providers to resolve service related issues, and help to ensure high quality services are delivered within the System of Care philosophy. Collaborative groups consist of community stakeholders and other behavioral health provider agencies working together, along with families, family support organizations, and those with lived experience to assist individuals, youth, and children receiving services through the public behavioral healthcare system.
Gaston Controlled Substances Coalition:
The Gaston Controlled Substances Coalition is composed of county residents and agencies who are working together to ensure: safe prescribing for pain management, local treatment for opioid dependence, securing medications and safe disposal of medications and community-based education to prevent opioid addiction.
Contact: Maceo Mayo, Prevention Services Coordinator at 704-458-4458 or email maceom@rhanet.org
Safe Medication Drop Boxes
For more information contact:
Maceo Mayo, Prevention Services Coordinator
704-458-4458 or maceom@rhanet.org
Available 24/7 at the following locations:
Gaston County Police Department
420 W. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28052
Belmont Police Department
201 Chronicle Street, Belmont, NC 28012
Mt. Holly Police Department
400 E. Central Ave., Mt. Holly, NC 28120
The Stanley Police Department
230 S Main St, Stanley, NC 28164
Walgreens Pharmacy, Belmont
6802 Wilkinson Blvd, Belmont, NC 28012
Cherryville Police Department
704 E. Church Street, Cherryville, NC 28021
Dallas Police Department
207 W. Church Street, Dallas, NC 28034
CVS Pharmacy – Belmont
6750 Wilkinson Blvd., Belmont, NC 28012
The Gaston County Sheriff’s Office
425 Dr M.L.K. Jr. Way, Gastonia, NC 28052
The Gastonia Police Department
200 E Long Ave, Gastonia, NC 28052
Henderson County
HopeRx
HopeRx is a community-based prescription drug abuse initiative centered on education, prevention and treatment. HopeRx was developed by the Henderson County Partnership for Health as a community collaborative to educate the public about the dangers of prescription drug abuse in Henderson County and help identify effective environmental strategies for prevention as well as treatment options. HopeRx is based on a public health model with the premise that drug overdose deaths are preventable and that all communities are ultimately responsible for their own health.
Contact: Executive Director Julie Huneycutt
Email: hoperxhc@gmail.com
Visit website
Safe Medication Drop Boxes
Safely dispose of your unused medication. They do not accept chemotherapy drugs or needles.
Henderson County Sheriff’s office
100 N. Grove Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Mon – Fri 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Madison County
The primary focus of the Madison County Substance Awareness Coalition (MSAC) is educating Madison County residents about the dangers of prescription medication misuse, abuse and overdose, as well as heroin and the use of Naloxone. Nicotine use is also a concern for this community.
Contact: Coordinator Heather Sharp. Call 828-649-3531, ext. 232.
Email: hsharp@madisoncountync.gov
Visit website
Medication Disposal Sites
There are two sites for people to take unused medications
Madison County Sheriff’s Office
348 Medical Park Drive, Marshall, NC 28753
(24 hours a day/7 days a week)
Mars Hill Police Department
280 N. Main Street, Mars Hill, NC 28754
Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
McDowell County
The Substance Use Workgroup
The Substance Use Workgroup is dedicated to reducing current substance misuse and preventing future substance use. Every spring the Substance Use Workgroup provides the Blue Ridge Recovery Rally in conjunction with McDowell Health Coalition and McDowell Recovery Solutions. The Workgroup addresses issues for adults in a subgroup chaired by the Rev. Danny Hampton and issues regarding youth and prevention efforts in a subgroup chaired by Donna Bruce.
Contact: Chairperson Ricky Buchanan, Chief Deputy of McDowell County Sheriff’s Office. Call 828-652-2235. Rev. Danny Hampton of Freedom Life Ministries, Coordinator for Adult Group. Call 828-559-2224. Donna Bruce, Coordinator for Youth Group. Call 828-348-2641.
Medication Drop Box Locations
There are two sites for people to take unused medications
Marion Police Department
270 South Main Street, Marion, NC 28752
Call 828-652-3231
McDowell County Sheriff’s Office
593 Spaulding Rd., Marion, NC 28752
Call 828-652-2235
Mitchell County and Yancey County
Mitchell-Yancey Substance Abuse Task Force
The core approach of the Mitchell-Yancey Substance Abuse Task Force (MYSATF) to reducing and eliminating substance use in Mitchell and Yancey counties includes awareness, education, advocacy, and prevention. The task force also focuses on the prevention of prescription drug misuse and underage drinking. MYSATF is an initiative of PATH.
Contact: Coordinator Jeff Spargo.
Email jeff@pathwnc.org
Visit Website
Drug Drop Boxes in The Community
To safely dispose of unused medication.
Please leave medication in the original prescription bottle for the purpose of identifying the mediation, but MARK OUT personal information on the label. The drop box locations are
Yancey County Sheriff’s Office (Main Entrance)
4 E. Main Street, Burnsville, NC 28714
Call 828-682-2124
(24 hours/ 7 days per week)
Burnsville Town Hall
2 Town Square, Burnsville, NC 28714
Call 828-682-2420
Mon – Fri 8:30am-4:30pm
Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office (Main Entrance)
63 Crimson Laurel Circle #8, Bakersville, NC 28705
Call 828-688-3982
Mon – Fri 8:00am- 7:00pm
Spruce Pine Police Department
193 East Valley Road, Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Call 828-765-2233
Mon – Fri 8:00am-5:00pm
Polk County
The Polk Substance Abuse Coalition (PSAC) is an outgrowth of PF3-Polk Fit, Fresh and Friendly. PSAC engages, advocates, informs and brings awareness of alcohol and other substance use issues to residents of Polk County through education, prevention, enforcement and treatment to build a healthy, safe and drug-free community. PSAC works to prevent substance misuse by providing professional development and a social-emotional learning curriculum that helps pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students learn to manage their emotions and create and maintain positive relationships with others.
Contact: Chairperson Kimberly McDonald.
Email kmcdonald@rhanet.org
Visit Website
Safe Medication Drop Box
Polk County has a safe medication drop box available at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office:
Polk County Sheriff’s Office
40 Ward Street, Columbus, NC 28722
Call 828-894-3001
Mon – Fri 9:00 a.m .to 5:00 p.m.
Rutherford County
Rutherford Community Collaborative:
Partners’ System of Care Department hosts System of Care Collaborative meetings throughout the Partners’ service area. Collaborative groups identify gaps in services, develop partnerships with agencies, promote resource development, offer technical assistance to providers to resolve service related issues, and help to ensure high quality services are delivered within the System of Care philosophy. Collaborative groups consist of community stakeholders and other behavioral health provider agencies working together, along with families, family support organizations, and those with lived experience to assist individuals, youth, and children receiving services through the public behavioral healthcare system.
Community Engagement Team:
The Community Engagement Team (CET) is comprised of representatives from law enforcement, the school system, Isothermal Community College, Rutherford Hospital, Forest City Housing Authority, the cooperative Extension, Western Highlands Network, local behavioral health and substance abuse prevention and treatment providers, the faith community, business owners and concerned residents to address the importance of proper medication disposal and prevention efforts geared towards out youth and the community at large. The Team is a United Way initiative.
Contact: Suzanne Porter, Executive Director, at 828-286-3929 or s.porter@uwrcinc.org
Safe Medication Drop Box Office
Available in the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office:
Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office
198 N. Washington Street
Rutherford, NC 28139
Call 828-287-6247
Mon – Sun 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Contact
Suzzane Porter
828-286-3929
s.porter@uwrcinc.org
Transylvania County
The C.A.R.E. Coalition
The vision of the CARE Coalition is, “A Healthy, Vibrant Transylvania County, Free of Substance Abuse and Underage Drinking.” The C.A.R.E. Coalition is committed to the reduction of substance use and underage drinking in Transylvania County, North Carolina by convening interested community members in order to facilitate collaboration and coordinate efforts between coalition members and existing local resources. The Care Coalition focuses on the prevention of prescription drug misuse and underage drinking.
Contact: CARE Coalition Coordinator Karen Gorman.
Email karen.gorman@transylvaniacounty.org
Visit website
Safe Medication Drop Box
Available in the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office
Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office:
153 Public Safety way, Brevard, NC 28712
Call 828-884-3168
Mon – Sun 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Helpful Prevention Resource Links For Communities