Berkshire Harm Reduction Moving to Downtown Pittsfield

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PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) has announced that Berkshire Harm Reduction is relocating its Pittsfield office.

Berkshire Harm Reduction will move from its current 510 North St. location to a larger space at 42 Summer St., second floor, effective Monday, May 13.

The need for additional space has been prompted by Berkshire Harm Reduction's growth since it first opened in 2017.

"In the past several years, Berkshire Harm Reduction has grown in staff and services, providing care to nearly 50 clients each day in the Pittsfield office," said Sarah DeJesus, program manager. "We have continually expanded our program in order to provide this essential community service." 

Berkshire Harm Reduction's 510 North St. office will remain open on May 9 and 10, which are the moving dates, and the new office is expected to be open at 42 Summer St. on Monday, May 13 for its regular hours of operation. 

Berkshire Harm Reduction's mission is to reduce the negative consequences associated with drug use, such as the spread of infectious diseases. Berkshire Harm Reductions aims to mitigate health complications from substance use by providing comprehensive services to people with substance use disorder.

In addition to free sterile supplies, fentanyl test strips, and Narcan, Berkshire Harm Reduction offers testing, for individuals 13 and over, for HIV, Hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted infections as well as basic wound care and abscess prevention. The program has also worked to provide cost-free access to Narcan through the placement of Narcan boxes in more than 60 locations across the Berkshires.

Berkshire Harm Reduction has two office locations, in Pittsfield and North Adams, and provides access to its mobile unit across the county, while also offering home delivery services for clients.

For more information, visit the Harm Reduction page on the Berkshire Health Systems website.

To connect with the team about supplies and services, call or text 413-822-6876.

If you are a community organization that would like to host a Narcan training or put up a Narcan box, contact Berkshire Harm Reduction at 413-822-6876.


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Pittsfield Considers Heavy Vehicle Exclusion on Appleton Ave.

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Heavy commercial vehicles might be banned from driving on Appleton Avenue from East Street to East Housatonic Street in the future. 

On Thursday, the Traffic Commission fielded a petition from Ward 4 Councilor James Conant requesting an exclusion for large commercial trucks on the route, which runs next to Pittsfield High School and through a residential neighborhood. 

City Engineer Tyler Shedd explained that the city would have to conduct a traffic study first. He agreed to have that data collected by summertime, and the petition was referred to his office. The exclusion would also have be OKed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. 

"I think it's something where maybe we can discuss it here, because trucks are trying to avoid the corner of South and West Housatonic Street, which had barriers for years, and then we put a bump out there," Shedd said. 

"There's a designated truck route that just doesn't get followed, and there's been attempts at improving signage." 

He said the concern is trucks turning from Appleton Avenue to East Housatonic Street without enough room. This often means cars have to get out of the way or run a red light. 

In 2022, the commission approved a petition to exclude heavy commercial vehicles on Deming and East Housatonic Streets. Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey pointed to previous years' efforts to exclude heavy commercial trucks from the area. 

"I don't disagree with [Conant] at all," he said. 

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