Sandisfield — Despite Monday, October 17’s cold rain, Nick Simonds was all smiles—and for good reason: The Pittsfield native is in the literal driver’s seat of an initiative that’s spreading awareness across the region. Since its debut in early April, Simonds has been steering the Berkshire Harm Reduction Mobile Unit—a program of Berkshire Health Systems (BHS)—through all 32 towns, plus a pair of cities, in the Berkshires with the goal of simultaneously breaking transportation barriers while increasing access to life-saving services for all.
“It’s really all based upon meeting people where they’re at and just trying to mitigate the risks involved with [intravenous drug] use,” said Simonds, a harm reductionist and Outreach and Syringe Service Program (SSP) Coordinator at BHS. Supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Berkshire Harm Reduction Program at Berkshire Medical Center provides several vital services to the community—including sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and Hepatitis C testing for indiviuals over the age of 13; sharps disposal; overdose education and naloxone distribution; Hepatitis C treatment and case management; plus syringe service.
At its core, the SSP provides clean equipment and syringes—plus education—to individuals with substance use disorder to minimize the spread of infection within the community. While drug use in Berkshire County is by no means new, the ongoing pandemic has pushed the isolation factor and exacerbated challenges among those in active use. “Around here, heroin is a rarity,” Simonds said, pointing to the prevalence of fentanyl which has initiated another pivotal program where users can have their substance tested to understand what’s in it. The need for further education about drugs like xylazine, for instance—a sedative that can increase one’s risk of overdose but is not an opioid, rendering Narcan of little use—is on the rise. From Simonds’ perspective, the avenue toward recovery lies in connection.
“If we can just get somebody through the door, and talk to them about their use, [an opportunity arises] to level with another human being,” said Simonds who acknowledges that while there has been some pushback to both the mobile unit and harm-reduction efforts, most stems from lack of understanding. Harm reduction does not facilitate drug use, rather it creates an avenue for support and education—on the signs of overdose, the steps that should be taken if an overdose is suspected, and how to correctly use naloxone (Narcan) to reverse an overdose.
“It’s really all based upon meeting people where they’re at and just trying to mitigate the risks involved with [intravenous drug] use,” said Simonds, a harm reductionist and Outreach and Syringe Service Program (SSP) Coordinator at BHS. Supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Berkshire Harm Reduction Program at Berkshire Medical Center provides several vital services to the community—including sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and Hepatitis C testing for indiviuals over the age of 13; sharps disposal; overdose education and naloxone distribution; Hepatitis C treatment and case management; plus syringe service.
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The Berkshire Harm Reduction mobile unit augments the services available at a trio of brick-and-mortar locations throughout the Berkshires. Photo by Hannah Van Sickle.“If we can just get somebody through the door, and talk to them about their use, [an opportunity arises] to level with another human being,” said Simonds who acknowledges that while there has been some pushback to both the mobile unit and harm-reduction efforts, most stems from lack of understanding. Harm reduction does not facilitate drug use, rather it creates an avenue for support and education—on the signs of overdose, the steps that should be taken if an overdose is suspected, and how to correctly use naloxone (Narcan) to reverse an overdose.
On a rainy Monday morning in Sandisfield, Simonds had just one visitor: someone who stopped hoping for a flu shot and was surprised to learn there was naloxone available onboard. Sold under the brand name Narcan, this single-use nasal spray is designed for use in the case of a known or suspected opioid overdose emergency (and has no adverse effects if there are no opioids present). For those who know individuals in active use, this is a game changer.
“That was a big moment for me,” said Simonds who continues to be encouraged by the sheer number of individuals in the community getting involved. “Whether it’s just carrying Narcan, asking questions, or coming up to Mobile,” each is a step in the right direction.
As for Simonds, he is a wealth of information, inspiration, and positivity. “I absolutely love [my job]; I’m in active recovery myself, so this kind of helps me just keep moving in the right direction.” Statistics point to the fact that, across the country, when people use safe syringe access programs and safe consumption sites, they are more likely to get into detox, treatment, and recovery—which is why Simonds strives for compassion when talking about harm reduction. “Giving another human being support, or letting them cry, gets the conversation flowing. The beauty of harm reduction, for me, is that it doesn’t matter where someone is at in the journey … I just [strive to] create an environment where they feel comfortable coming back.”
NOTE: To learn more, visit Berkshire Harm Reduction for a complete list of services; locations and hours for their three walk-in clinics; plus a monthly calendar of where to find the Harm Reduction Mobile Unit throughout Berkshire County. BHS also operates a trio of brick-and-mortar locations (in Adams, Pittsfield and Great Barrington) on an entirely walk-in basis. There, individuals can request testing as well as clean syringes among other things.
