15 years of CRUSH. 5 years of YANA.
From here, we go together.
Our history as a coalition began back in 2011 when St. Louis County Department of Public Health, and St. Louis County Police Department saw the need to handle the rise of heroin overdoses in a different and more meaningful way. Back then we needed to let our community know what was happening to our people. Today, we know heroin is no longer our big issue, fentanyl took over the drug supply and we saw that represented in the overdose deaths that continued to rise in St. Louis, in Missouri and across our nation. Those overdoses increased at alarming rates, until 2024. It is amazing we have seen the declines in overdoses across Missouri, and especially in the Metro St. Louis area, but there is still work to be done.
St. Louis CRUSH received their federal status as a 501(c)3 in 2022, but we have not changed who we work among. St. Louis CRUSH operates in tandem with the St. Louis area health departments, police departments, recovery centers, treatment centers, prevention organizations, parents, students and more. We knew we needed to update our focus, our mission and move toward the future of combating this disease.
This year, in looking toward the future, we have changed our mission statement, our vision statement, our logo, and our name! Please be sure to check out all the changes to our coalition and to our website. If you are interested in joining the fight, and continuing the change that St. Louis CRUSH and our partners diligently work at every day, please go to the bottom of our first page and fill out the interest form. We will be sure to get back to you!
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Our Mission
The St. Louis CRUSH (Community Resources United to Start Healing) Coalition exists to connect, support, and empower individuals, families, and communities impacted by substance use, mental health challenges, and the journey of recovery.
We believe healing begins with connection. Through education, outreach, advocacy, resource navigation, and community engagement, we work to ensure that no one has to face these challenges alone. We meet people where they are at -- with compassion, practical support, and the belief that hope is always possible. As a community-center organization, CRUSH brings together individuals, families, health care professionals, schools, treatment providers, recovery advocates, faith communities, volunteers, and local partners to create pathways toward healing. We work to reduce stigma, increase access to resources, strengthen recovery support, and build meaningful connections throughout the St. Louis Region.
Whether through our annual You Are Not Alone (YANA) Fest, Walk 'n Talks, youth prevention and educational initiatives, outreach efforts, or partnerships across the community, we are committed to holding up the light for those who may be struggling and reminding every person we serve of one simple truth:
You are not alone.
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Community Outreach Efforts
Walk n' Talks
