Pittsfield Plans Public Session On Methadone, Opiods

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city will hold a public forum on Monday to discuss local opioid abuse and the controversial planned opening of a methadone clinic in the city.

The meeting will be held in the auditorium at Crosby Elementary School, 517 West St., at 6:30 p.m. on July 23 and will feature input from state officials, local mental health experts, and Worcestor-based Spectrum Health Services.

Spectrum, which is currently involved in a lawsuit against the city of Pittsfield, has encountered vocal opposition from neighbors of locations it has attempted to open its clinic at on both Summer Street and Stoddard Avenue.

"News that a methadone clinic will be locating in Pittsfield has prompted a great deal of questions and concerns," Mayor Daniel Bianchi said. "The City of Pittsfield is still involved in litigation with Spectrum, so I cannot discuss that aspect of the issue. However, in the last few months, I've had an opportunity to learn a lot more about opioid addiction in Pittsfield and it's long past time to address this problem head-on."

The forum will include the first opportunity for Pittsfield residents to hear from Spectrum Health CEO Charles Faris, who has declined all opportunities to speak to local media on the issue. Both Spectrum and city officials have avoided comment on the ongoing litigation because of a confidentiality clause both parties signed in 2011.

Other keynote speakers include:

• Hilary Jacobs, deputy director of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, state Department of

Public Health
• Dr. Jennifer Michaels, medical director of the Brien Center and attending psychiatrist at Berkshire Medical Center
• Dr. Alex Sabo, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Berkshire Medical center
 
The presentations will feature data on current opioid abuse and treatment in Pittsfield, how methadone treatment facilities are monitored by the state, and information on Spectrum Health's outcomes and treatment considerations in other communities. 

Bianchi said he will offer perspective and information on the scope of drug abuse issues in the community.

"Pittsfield is not unique when it comes to residents with opioid addiction, though our numbers are higher than many communities," he said. "We can't continue to hope that this will go away. The better approach is to learn as much as we can about the problem and identify solutions. It's time to get proactive."

A question-and-answer period will follow. The public is encouraged to attend.

Tags: methadone,   public forum,   public health,   

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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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