Pittsfield Events to Raise Awareness of Overdose DangerBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:56PM / Monday, August 19, 2024 | |
 Pittsfield marks Overdose Awareness Day last year in Park Square. |
Mayor Peter Marchetti reads a proclamation declaring August International Overdose Awareness Month (the Day is Aug. 31) in this screenshot from PCTV.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city will remember those lost to overdose with events in August and September.
Last week, Mayor Peter Marchetti delivered a proclamation for International Overdose Awareness Month to local mental health leaders in council chambers. All are members of the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Advisory Committee.
"As many of you know, my mental health substance use disorder task force are an important part of one of our new initiatives in the administration," he said.
Another proclamation will be read in front of City Hall on Aug. 29 at 11:45 a.m. and a flag will be raised for overdose awareness. On Aug. 31 at 6:30 p.m., there will be a memorial service at the Common followed by a procession to Park Square to read the names of the lives lost in Berkshire County.
A Revel in Recovery celebration with family entertainment will be held at the Common from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 7.
"I would encourage all that can to go," Marchetti said.
Last year, it was reported there were 48 fatal overdoses in Berkshire County in 2022 — 29 just in Pittsfield. Since 2012, there had been a staggering 418 deaths from overdose in the county.
Marchetti's proclamation recognized that the month raises awareness of substance use disorder so that communities can end overdose, remember those who have died without stigma, promote treatment, support harm reduction, celebrate recovery, and strengthen collective efforts to prevent future overdoses.
"Overdose Awareness Month serves to support our families and friends who have lost loved ones to overdose and we as a city do and will continue to see the people who are so deeply affected by the disease of substance use disorder we renew our commitment to preventing these tragic deaths," he read.
The task force's vision is to ensure that all residents have access to proper mental health and substance use disorder care in a judgment-free environment and to strengthen the partnerships among providers. It is expected to collaborate with community stakeholders to ensure that providers have the resources to give individuals and families timely and adequate treatment.
It was one of Marchetti's campaign promises and inaugural members were appointed in April.
The city is slated to receive more than $2 million in Opioid Settlement Funds, with an initial settlement installment of $510,711.79 accepted earlier this year.
In July 2021, the attorney general entered into an agreement with the major distributors of opioids. This includes payments to communities to address issues associated with opioid addiction and prevention and the city expects to receive $2,221,991.49 over its term.
Documents show that payments are scheduled until 2038.
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