Confronting the Opioid Crisis

Photo credit: Dave Roback, The Republican

I want to take a moment to share with you about an important event that happened last week. At First Churches in Northampton, Tapestry Health helped to host a candlelight vigil for those who have lost loved ones to heroin overdose. Local victims’ names were read aloud, and many people shared stories of how these losses have devastated families and our community.

By bringing forward and honoring the memories of victims, the vigil highlighted the real human cost of our region’s serious opioid crisis. Tapestry is at the forefront of the effort to confront this crisis and turn it around.

Some of you who know us primarily for our reproductive health and family planning services may be surprised to learn that Tapestry has been doing critical work to reduce the impact of substance use since 1995 when we opened our first needle exchange in Northampton. Our needle exchange staff have now trained over 3,000 people on how to recognize an overdose and intervene using Narcan to prevent an overdose death.

Over 350 people in our area have reported back to us that Narcan was used to reverse an overdose. That’s 350 people given a chance to live another day and seek treatment.

Our trainings also help shift attitudes toward heroin addiction, fostering non-judgmental approaches to caring for those affected. Head trainer and needle exchange Director Liz Whynott (pictured above) was interviewed at the vigil. As she explained, “We treat drug users with respect and work to respond to what they need instead of trying to get them to follow our agenda”.

This client-centered approach is a common thread through all of Tapestry’s services. As our leadership team works to strengthen operations and make programs more efficient, we remain dedicated to meeting people where they are, and to treating everyone as worthy of care.

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You can read MassLive’s coverage of the vigil here and a recent interview with Liz Whynott about Tapestry's Needle Exchange here.

If you or someone you know is concerned about opioid overdose, call the Tapestry Health Needle Exchange for help and information. 

Northampton: (413) 586-0310 

Holyoke:  (413) 315-3732 ext. 1