For Patrick Magee, playing catch with his kids is one of the best parts of his day.

Family support is a priority for Magee, especially as members of his own have struggled with addiction.

“My family had a fairly decent, long history of people with known substance use or alcohol use disorder. Uncle, grandfather, dad, brother, cousin," said Magee, executive director of the Mountain Top Cares Coalition.


What You Need To Know

  • The Mountain Top Cares Coalition provides addiction support to people in rural Greene County

  • The organization just received $150,000 from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts to continue outreach efforts in rural areas and connect people with addiction treatment and services they might not know about

  • It provides people with certified recovery peer advocates, hold Narcan trainings and different events that give community members something fun to do other than using drugs or alcohol.

Magee is helping others find recovery.

The Mountain Top Cares Coalition provides addiction support to people in rural Greene County. It just received $150,000 from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts to continue outreach efforts in rural areas and connect people with addiction treatment and services they might not know about living in a small town.

“The only way we can do this work is with funding like that. That is going to allow us to continue to do this for the next couple of years," Magee said.

The organization provides people with certified recovery peer advocates, funds for holding Narcan trainings and different events that give community members something fun to do, other than using drugs or alcohol.

All of the events are held in an effort to break the stigma surrounding asking for help, and to show people that no one is alone.

“Around here, you know, everybody knows everybody. So even watching somebody walk through our door is tough for people because they're worried about who's going to see them as they enter and who's going to see them," Magee said.

Taking that first step and asking for help can be hard anywhere, small town or big city, but no matter where you are, there are people who will support you no matter what.

“What I would want other people to know is that there's hope. Every time someone uses Narcan or does anything to save another person's life, it's another chance for them to to survive and keep living," Magee said.