Pittsfield HEALing Communities Forum
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Linda Tyer, city officials, and local community leaders involved in the work of substance abuse disorders will participate in the HEALing (sic) Communities panel discussion at 8 p.m.
Thursday, April 6, on Pittsfield Community Television (PCTV).
The discussion will air on CityLink-Channel 1303, PCTV Select-1, and PCTV Facebook.
"The city of Pittsfield, like many communities across the country, continue to experience the devastating and reverberating impact of substance abuse disorders. It's vital that we continue to have transparent and collaborative conversations about what we're doing as a collective to best support those experiencing addiction and their loved ones as well," said Mayor Tyer. "We hope this panel discussion will provide timely and useful information for those who may need it in our community."
Mayor Tyer will be joined by the following panelists:
- Brian Andrews, president, County Ambulance;
- Andy Cambi, director, Health Department, city of Pittsfield;
- Sarah DeJesus, program manager, Berkshire Health Systems;
- Officer Darren Derby, of the Pittsfield Police Department;
- Raymond Hernandez, Pittsfield resident with lived experience; and
- Dr. Jennifer Michaels, medical director, Brien Center.
The conversation, which comes in the wake of the recent "Faces of Naloxone" campaign, will highlight urgent concerns from local health officials, the significance of the ‘HEALing Communities' initiative, harm reduction, defining recovery and treatment, reducing stigma, and resources for those experiencing addiction.
