Shed light on substance use disorder by raising awareness, increasing education, and stopping the stigma. MAAG is passionate about helping those in active substance use, and with their journey of recovery.
A group of parents and concerned citizens came together in the Spring of 2014 and decided to hold a "Stop Heroin" walk in Sullivan, Missouri. The first walk held in April of that year began a journey of raising awareness, increasing education, and stopping the stigma that surrounds substance use.
In May 2015, Mid-MO Missouri Addiction Awareness Group - MAAG became a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Since becoming a 501c3 MAAG has held many walks in Sullivan, MO, and other communities such as St. Clair, Union, Owensville, and Belle. MAAG hosts an Annual Substance Use Awareness Day in Sullivan, MO each year. It has become MAAG's biggest event. In 2019 MAAG introduced "Within These Walls: Secrets Revealed," an RV remodeled into a bedroom where we can show how drugs are hidden and the signs of substance use.
MAAG was founded by Christa Harmon, a mother of someone suffering from substance use disorder. The organization was her outlet for being directly affected by substance use disorder. At the time of discovering her daughter's substance use, there were no forms of support, so she created her own support. Christa became an advocate, without knowing that is what was happening. She has taken the steps to educate herself on substance use and obtained the following credentials through the Missouri Credentialing Board: Missouri Recovery Support Specialist, Missouri Prevention Specialist, Medication Awareness Recovery Specialist. She is also certified to teach Seeking Safety, an evidence-based PTSD and Substance Use Treatment. Christa is working on becoming certified as a CRAFT educator as well as taking any training or classes to increase her knowledge on substance use and mental health issues.
The Leaders of MAAG are a diverse group of individuals who have been affected by substance use in their own ways. Each individual has a story of their own. They have come together to work on a topic that is seen by many as a choice and not their problem.
MAAGs Leaders: Teresa Whalen, Angie Bogert, Keith Hickman, Gina Tourville, Angie Chilton, Larry Ragan, and Trinity Ragan.