Troy Drug Free Community Coalition

TDFCC emerged from the Troy Neighborhoods Action Coalition (TNAC), a consortium of the city’s numerous neighborhood groups. Many TNAC discussions focused on quality of life issues, including drug and alcohol abuse, crime, and disengaged youth. The TDFCC was formed to focus more narrowly on these issues.

Scholarships for Positive Opportunities
In the beginning, some of the neighborhood groups began partnering with community police, youth agencies, and the Weed and Seed Program. The focus was on providing youth with positive opportunities. These included scholarships to The Arts Center of the Capital Region and to sleep-away camps run by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. These early programs were highly successful and paved the way for Troy’s youth to change themselves for the better.

Community Social Host and Underage Drinking Ordinance
In 2007, house parties involving underage drinking, noise, and lewd behaviors surged in popularity. The DFCC approached the City Council to remedy the problem. Their efforts were successful: in 2008, the City Council amended the City Code of Ordinances by adding Chapter 130: “Community Social Host and Underage Drinking”.

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The ordinance officially prohibits anyone under age 21 from purchasing or consuming alcohol in Troy. It codified consequences for violating the ordinance: a fine of up to $1000, up to 15 days in jail, or both. TDFCC’s initiative pushed the city to prioritize public health and safety, especially of Troy’s youth.

Partnership with Peers Educating Peers
After the success of the Social Host Law, the TDFCC began looking into other ways to improve community involvement while addressing youth substance abuse. The result was a partnership with Peers Educating Peers (PEP), an initiative that encourages teens to educate one another on the dangers of substance abuse.

PEP and the DFCC organized a Paint the Boards project, which focused on beautifying abandoned homes and boosting neighborhood pride, particularly among Troy’s youth. During this time, the TDFCC saw a surge in youth involvement in the coalition. This was especially significant due to the recent uptick in youth-involved car break-ins, shootings, and fights in Troy.​ Rather than hiding from the chaos, Troy’s teens found strength in the TDFCC and became more involved in the community. They reached out to police and city officials to obtain resources and put an end to the crimes committed by their peers.

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Synthetic Marijuana Action Plan
In 2011, an influx of synthetic marijuana in Troy reached a fever pitch. Two stores in Troy were found to have been giving out free samples of the drug to teens, marketing it as “incense” to avoid detection. TDFCC vowed to put an end to the spread of synthetic marijuana in Troy. Members were trained by the Rensselaer County Community Prevention Specialist to stop the spread of synthetic marijuana and educate the public on its dangers. The coalition also worked with the County Drug Free Community Coalition to devise and administer an action plan for preventing synthetic marijuana use.

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