From the blog
Investing in Our Youth: CANDLE Awarded Five-Year Federal DFC Grant for Youth Substance Use Prevention
CANDLE awarded Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant
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Prevention articles from the CANDLE team
Community Connections
Chefs Take a Stand Against Domestic Violence
CANDLE joined the YWCA of Cortland County’s 7th Annual Chefs Take a Stand Against Domestic Violence, serving an alcohol-free “Autumn Plum” mocktail.
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Resources
Our Kidneys and Alcohol
This month, in honor of National Kidney Awareness Month, our goal is to understand how alcohol interacts with our kidneys so we can make informed, intentional choices about our habits.
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Community Connections
Brighter Days Ahead
CANDLE recently participated in the Cortland Prevention Resources “Mocktail Magic” event, alongside other community members and groups, and we were honored to take home the win.
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Community Connections
Mocktail Magic: A Community Night of Connection and Zero-Proof Fun
Mocktail Magic returns this January, and we’re excited to share a preview with our partners at CANDLE.
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Resources
CANDLE Coalition 2025 Wrap-Up
What a busy year it’s been for the CANDLE Coalition! As we reflect on 2025, we’re proud to share a summary of the coalition’s activities that have strengthened our mission to reduce substance use among people with disabilities in Cortland County.
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Planning Sober Holiday Gatherings
Although the holidays are most closely associated with family and friend gatherings, it can also be a difficult time for people who have a history of substance misuse.
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Tips for Sober Halloween Fun
Although Halloween is most often associated with candy, alcohol and recreational drug use also increases during this holiday.
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Impact of Substance Use on Likelihood of Falls in Older Adults
September is National Fall Prevention month. The awareness campaign focuses on education about ways to prevent people from falling down, particularly among older adults.
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Cortland Pride Festival 2025
CANDLE was thrilled to join the Cortland LGBTQ Center at their annual Pride Festival on July 19th, 2025.
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Community Connections
Celebrate Cortland Pride Fest with CANDLE
This year will be the third annual Cortland Community Pride Festival! The festival will be on Saturday July 19th, from 10am to 2pm at Courthouse Park in Cortland.
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Community Connections
Cortland County Mental Health Walk 2025
CANDLE was thrilled to join the Cortland County Mental Health Community Resource Fair and Walk on May 15th, 2025.
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Resources
Exploring Substance Misuse Programming on Global Accessibility Day
Did you know May 15th, 2025, is Global Accessibility Awareness Day?
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Alcohol and Stress Awareness Month
Did you know April is alcohol and stress awareness month? Research shows that individuals with disabilities are at a higher risk of experiencing alcohol misuse and related problems than those without disabilities.
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Support Needed for CANDLE’s 2025 Community Survey
It’s that time again! CANDLE’s community survey is now available for 2025. This ongoing data collection project helps our coalition stay current on local alcohol & cannabis use trends among people with disabilities in our area.
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Resources
Join CANDLE at Cortland Prevention Resources’ “Mocktail Magic” Event
Drinking any amount of alcohol comes with risks. “Dry January” is a health movement that encourages people to not drink alcohol during the first month of the new year.
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Resources
Substance Use and Disability: A Public Health Concern
Cortland County community members are aware that substance use is a critical public health issue locally and across the United States.
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The Spoon Theory Reality: Understanding How Disabilities Increase the Risk of Substance Use
Spoon Theory is a popular idea that uses spoons to represent the amount of physical and mental energy a person has for daily activities.
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Community Connections
CANDLE Celebrates National Substance Use Prevention Month
National Substance Use Prevention Month is celebrated every October. The goal is to raise awareness about substance misuse and share information about factors that decrease a person’s likelihood of using substances in harmful ways.
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Resources
CANDLE Announces Official Website Launch
We are also thrilled to announce the launch of our CANDLE Coalition website to the public!
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Resources
“Love Where You Play” Stewardship Day & Alternative 4/20
CANDLE’s crew had so much fun volunteering at our local nature center last weekend!
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Resources
CANDLE Continues Survey Efforts During Alcohol Awareness Month
As April marks the beginning of Alcohol Awareness Month, it provides us an opportunity to explore the impacts of alcohol misuse in our communities and society.
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Community Connections
Support Needed: Take CANDLE’s 2024 Community Survey!
CANDLE is once again conducting a community survey that aims to analyze local usage trends of alcohol & cannabis (marijuana) among individuals with disabilities in Cortland County.
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Resources
Low Vision Awareness Month: The Prevention Connection
With over 7 million Americans experiencing permanent vision loss and at least 1 million currently living with blindness, Low Vision Awareness month serves as an opportunity to better understand the risk & protective factors associated with some visual impairments and their effects on daily life.
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Learning Disabilities Awareness Month: Making the Connection to Substance Use
Some studies have suggested that up to 60% of people in substance use treatment have some type of learning disability or difficulty.
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Resources
CANDLE Launches First Community Survey
CANDLE was very excited to launch our first community survey during ATI’s ADA Celebration on July 26!
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Community Connections
ATI & CANDLE Participate in Fentanyl Awareness Day
On Tuesday, May 9th, local opioid overdose reduction coalition Healing Cortland organized our county’s participation in the second annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day.
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