Using a Conceptual Framework:
Examining Drug and Alcohol Abuse in the City of Buffalo, New York
Carrie Occhino
November 8, 2023
Addiction Assessment & Treatment in Art Therapy/Counseling
Delora Putnam-Bryant, MSAT, ATR-BC2
In this paper, I adopt a conceptual framework that merges the disease model and the
sociocultural model of addiction to delve into the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse in New
York State. By drawing upon insights from these two frameworks, the aim of this research is to
gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to addiction and the available
treatment programs in the City of Buffalo, New York. Through this analysis, I will explore the
complex interplay of biological, psychological, and sociocultural influences on substance abuse,
shedding light on the unique challenges faced by individuals in this region. By examining the
incidence of drug and alcohol abuse and investigating the underlying factors, I hope to gain
insight into the accessibility of effective prevention and intervention strategies to address this
urgent issue in my region.
According to the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
(OASAS, 2023) 33,209 deaths from drug overdose occurred between 2018 and 2022. A
staggering 55.2 % and 49.8 % were of African American/Black and Indigenous People groups,
respectively. The most reported cases occurred in counties of greater population concentration
including Erie, Monroe, Bronx, Kings, and Suffolk counties. These are the areas primarily
surrounding major cities including Buffalo, Rochester, and New York City. For the remainder of
this research, I have chosen to concentrate on Erie County, specifically the city of Buffalo, to
highlight the prevalence of drug and alcohol related instances as it pertains to the population of
people I am currently serving.
Heading up the Erie County Opiate Epidemic Task Force are Erie County Executive
Mark Poloncarz, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn, Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein,
and Erie County Sheriff John Garcia. Presenting information indicated at a local press3
conference in March 2023 reported the total number of opioid related deaths in 2022 exceeded
the previous high count in 2016 of 298 deaths and counting, pending 20 pending cases
(Poloncarz, 2023). With the tail end of the Covid-19 Pandemic still making tracks around
Buffalo, opioid and alcohol related issues are still being seen as effects of the Nation’s health
crisis. While liquor stores were deemed essential during the pandemic, it was shown that alcohol
used increased but did not seem to contribute to or exacerbate newfound addictions. However,
unintentional Fentanyl overdoses rose according to Brandy Vandermark-Murray from Horizon
Health Services, stating, “We’ve always had access to alcohol and different substances in the
community, the change we saw was people really struggled with using healthy coping skills and
they fell backwards to maladaptive coping skills with increase in use.” (Ja’ciel, 2022). These
sentiments lead towards a comprehensive look at each individual case, along with the treatment
teams, to work together to see what the risks are. Assessment with medical providers, counselors,
and families along with various recovery support systems work to ensure individualized care
encompasses what is best for each patient.
With the amount of treatment options available in Buffalo, the indications of utilizing a
disease model come into focus. While various levels of support and treatment are available, the
disease model holds true to an “inherited disease that chemically alters the body in such a way
that the individual is permanently ill at a genetic level” (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). Treatment
options include intensive/inpatient, outpatient/partial, medication assisted treatment (MAT),
early intervention, and multiple support groups for addiction and families struggling with
addiction. Treatment situations can be found for prevention through recovery, indicating that in
most cases addiction is a lifelong disease that needs continued, lifetime support. The practicum
placement I am currently situated at offers short term, inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care4
within the city of Buffalo. The Erie County Opiate Epidemic Task Force works to provide
support through education, grief, family, and individual care through its various community-
based programs to destigmatize getting support and offers nondiscriminatory practices. Some of
these programs are available through Addict 2 Addict, Family 2 Family, Horizon Health
Services, Sparks Of Hope, In His Name Outreach, OASAS, and the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, 2023).
Boasted as the “City of Good Neighbors,” Buffalo offers a diverse cultural experience of
arts, food, religion, and entertainment. Often alcohol is a social mainstay as we host one of the
top NFL football teams, and alcohol paves the way for a good time. Looking at sociocultural
factors offers a significant insight into the factors that lead to addiction in this area. Drug and
alcohol use is defined by the sociocultural aspects of Buffalo sighting recreation, heritage/family
history, and socioeconomic status as major contributing factors. As previously stated, our city
hosts a major football team showing that substance use, and abuse is prevalent during
recreational and social events. “Bills Mafia” is the city given name for host of fans that flood the
stadium and surrounding bars and homes to cheer on our team, it’s a culture that you are born
into. Excessive drinking and bingeing occur during these various sporting events, increasing the
risk of several chronic diseases and conditions including cancers, hypertension, cardiovascular
disease, and stroke (NYS Department of Health, 2016). There is also a culture of gambling
which increases or promotes the use of alcohol and drugs. OASAS efforts since 2005 have
included gambling addictions and its relationship with substance abuse estimating approximately
5% of the population, totaling more than 750,000 people, 160,000 of those are between the age
of 12-17 years (OASAS, 2023).5
Buffalo hosts a diverse community of people groups including Irish, Polish, African
American/Black, Hispanic, Asian, and a recent influx of over 118,000 immigrants and asylum
seekers to New York City and Buffalo from Latin America, Mexico, and Russia (Freeman,
2023). With the rise of immigrants comes and influx of fiscal pressure for food, housing,
healthcare, legal services putting a strain on the economic status of the city. With an ever-
increasing strain on the city of Buffalo to provide services, the population of residents that live
below poverty line remains around 28% as of 2021 (New York State of Health, 2022). Decreased
self-esteem, powerlessness, feelings of moral failing, guilt, shame, and diminished self-worth can
lead to a vulnerability to substance abuse. Erie County also resides on the land of the Seneca
Nation of Indigenous People accounting for 49.8% of deaths between 2018 and 2022 per
100,000 population (OASAS, 2023). The Seneca Nation boasts its own health system wherein
the focus is on prevention and recovery support utilizing peer outreach, support groups, and
prevention education. Within Indigenous cultures like that of the Seneca Nation, the community
is the surrounding support system on which mental health care is sustained. The community acts
as the agent of care, empowering family, and individuals as the support for individuals suffering
from social, psychological, and inter-generational traumas. The methods of healing transcend
traditional forms of Western medicine to include a holistic approach through meditation, nature
connections, energy healing, and hypnotherapy (Seneca Nation Health System, 2023).
The last factor I believe has a major contribution to drug and alcohol consumption in the
City of Buffalo is an increase in seasonal depression and anxiety. As the months grow colder and
the sun begins to make shorter appearances in the area there is a noticeable shift in the culture of
our city. More folks choose to stay at home due to the cold or weather-related conditions,
combined with the lack of natural vitamin D, there is an increased risk and use of drugs and6
alcohol. As stated above, people during this time turn to maladaptive coping skills to combat the
feelings of depression. As the days get shorter there is less daylight, impacting the biological
rhythms of society. According to Dr. Steven Dubovsky, chair of Psychiatry Department at the
University at Buffalo, “People who are prone to getting depressed, what happens in those
circadian rhythms of hormone secretion, energy production, get thrown out of sync and that is
what brings on the depression” (Mroziak, 2022).
The City of Buffalo is deeply affected by the combination of disease model and
sociocultural factors that fuel drug and alcohol abuse. Social and cultural influences play a
significant role in the prevalence of substance abuse, as the city faces economic challenges and a
history of generational poverty. Moreover, the city's rich cultural diversity, although vibrant,
poses unique challenges as different social groups have varying patterns of substance use.
Additionally, the seasonal factors, such as harsh winters and the resultant social isolation, can
exacerbate substance abuse problems. However, the city has made strides in addressing addiction
through a range of treatment options that support the disease model. From prevention programs
to harm reduction measures, Buffalo focuses on educating and empowering communities to
combat substance abuse. Furthermore, the city provides comprehensive treatment options that
include detoxification, counseling, and aftercare services. The support doesn't stop there, as grief
support resources are available for those who have lost loved ones to addiction. The combination
of addressing sociocultural influences and providing a range of treatment options demonstrates
Buffalo's commitment to tackling drug and alcohol abuse effectively.7
Recovery and Treatment Resources
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Cadca.org
Erie County Council for the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse eccpasa.org
Erie County Department of Health www2.erie.gov/health
Erie County Opiate Epidemic Task Force (ECDOH) www3.erie.gov
Erie County Addiction Hotline 716-831-7007
Horizon Health Services www.horizon-health.org/services
In His Name Outreach www.inhisnameoutreach.org
New York State Office of Alcohol & Substance Abuse www.oasas.ny.gov
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) www.samhsa.gov
Substance Abuse Hotline (New York) #1-800-662-4357
Self Help Groups
Alcoholics Anonymous (Buffalo) buffaloaany.org
Al-Anon www.aiswny.org
Nar-Anon www.nar-anon.org
Smart Recovery www.smartrecovery.org8
References
Capuzzi, D. & Stauffer, M.D. (2020). Foundations of addictions counseling, 4th Edition. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Freeman, W. (2023, Oct 5). Why new york is experiencing a migrant crisis.
https://www.cfr.org/article/why-new-york-experiencing-migrant-crisis.
Retrieved November 7, 2023.
Ja’Ciel, I. (2022, Jan 14). Horizon health official on why substance abuse has risen during the
Covid-19 pandemic. Spectrum News.
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2022/01/14/why-substance-abuse-rose-
during-the-pandemic. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
Mroziak, M. (2022, Feb 7). Winter blues or something more? It may be seasonal affective
disorder.
https://www.wbfo.org/health-wellness/2022-02-07/winter-blues-or-something-more-it-
may-be-seasonal-affective-disorder. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
New York State Office of Alcohol & Substance Abuse. OASAS. (2023, Oct 22).
https://oasas.ny.gov/overdose-death-dashboard
New York State Department of Health. (2016). Behavioral risk factor surveillance system
(BRFSS). [Brief].
https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/brfss/reports/docs/1812_alc_drinking.pdf9
New York State of Health. (2022, July 29). Pain point analysis: Buffalo. [PowerPoint].
https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/sites/default/files/Ichor%20Strategies%20-
%20Pain%20Point%20Analysis%20-%20Buffalo.pdf. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
Poloncarz, M.C. (2023, March 16). Erie county officials present new data outlining the terrible
toll of opioid overdose deaths in 2022. [Press release].
https://www2.erie.gov/exec/index.php?q=press/erie-county-officials-present-new-data-
outlining-terrible-toll-opioid-overdose-deaths-2022. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
Substance abuse and mental health services administration. SAMHSA. (2023).
https://www.samhsa.gov/
Seneca Nation Health System. Seneca Health. (2023). https://www.senecahealth.org/