To the editor:
For those who do not know, the Great Barrington office of Berkshire Harm Reduction (BHR) has been closed. This vital resource provided services and resources to people who use drugs; treatments for those affected by sexually transmitted infections; testing for STIs; Hepatitis C education, treatment, and case management; sharps disposal; overdose education and naloxone distribution; HIV health and prevention; wound care; and safe syringe access.
Regardless of the circumstances of the closure, this is a major blow to the progress that has been made in South County in the fight to support those affected by substance use. Safe syringe access and the rest of the services provided, for the brief period that the BHR office was open in Great Barrington, are a vital part of battling the substance use crisis in which we are still deeply ensconced. This problem is not resolved, it has not gone away, and the elimination of services of this caliber is beyond unacceptable.
Because of this closing, South County residents who use drugs will die in greater numbers, lose limbs for lack of wound care, and others will become infected with easily preventable infections. Science proves that harm reduction services, especially full-scope services such as those provided by Berkshire Harm Reduction, reduce infection, save lives, and, for those focused on money, save health systems and taxpayers cold, hard dollars.
Fortunately—and unfortunately—southern Berkshire County will never see the same numbers as Pittsfield or North Adams, where BHR locations will remain open. This has always proven detrimental to South County as many times providing services to “so few” is not beneficial to the bottom line.
The bottom line that I see, and will not lose focus on, is that we will see more cold, hard overdose deaths, and infections. Despite the fact that the Great Barrington office was regularly seeing folks every single week. It seems to me that those few were not seen as important enough to keep the office open or relocate it. We as a community need to make sure that these services are not only re-implemented but sustained for the long-term benefit of all residents of South County.
Gary Pratt
Sheffield
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