The mission of the Berkshire Overdose and Addiction Prevention Collaborative (BOAPC) is to collectively implement local policy, practice, systems, and/or environmental changes to reduce harms from opioid and stimulant use, and to prevent substance-related deaths and harmful impacts throughout the 32 municipalities in Berkshire County. The collaborative includes community organizations, medical and behavioral health practitioners, local government, law enforcement, housing agencies, workforce development, harm reduction, treatment/recovery providers, education, people in recovery and individual citizens alike. BOAPC provides an engaging space for these partners to work together to identify needs in the community and implement solutions.

BOAPC’s current projects include:

• The Thrive initiative, piloting field teams from Public Health, EMS and Behavioral Health to outreach those who have recently experienced an overdose or may be at higher risk.
• Facilitating the North Berkshire Opioid Abatement Collaborative (OAC) and HEAL Coalition to pool municipal settlements funds and coordinate community‑driven strategies that reduce overdose, expand access to treatment and harm reduction services, and address underlying needs in North County.
• Two family‑services grants equip those affected by a loved one’s substance use with practical tools to help build supportive communication skills, strengthen coping strategies, and connect to local services. This includes communications campaigns to normalize conversations about addiction and provide families, friends and neighbors with tools they can use to help support themselves and others.
• Maintaining a continuously evolving substance use disorder Landscape Analysis and strategic plan.
• The Into Light project shares portraits and stories of local lives lost to substance use, honoring our community while expanding public education and fostering compassionate cross-cutting conversations.
• An enhanced focus on addressing stimulant use, particularly before more recreational use escalates.
• Supporting municipal collaborations around statewide Opioid Settlement
• The Community Outreach Specialist initiative sends more than two dozen specialists across all three regions to conduct local, relationship‑based outreach that helps residents reduce substance‑related harms and connect with supports; over 1300 residents were engaged in 2025.
• A Bureau of Justice Assistance Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) grant to reduce overdose through proactive, multi-pronged community engagement and intervention.
• Supporting youth protection, including Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, SPARK, Railroad Street Youth Project, and Social Emotional Learning for younger children with higher risk factors.
• Cheer Without the Cheers campaign to reduce riskier adult alcohol consumption, promote zero-proof alternatives and increase prosocial connections.
• Door Knocks teams raise awareness of changes in the supply (especially among people who use more recreationally), distribute naloxone and smash the stigma. In 2025, teams knocked on 1747 doors, engaged 557 residents and distributed 347 naloxone kits.
• Communications campaigns to provide practical tools, increase engagement with services and reduce stigma, including Faces of Naloxone and the film Blueprint: Building the Foundation for Recovery.
• Distributing resource guides palm cards, posters, flyers and toolkits along with an online resource guide, including resources specific to women and Spanish speakers.
• Maintaining an online Find Naloxone map for Berkshire County.

BOAPC continues to be a vital collaborative core to bring together the rich network of community partners to reduce the impact of substances on our community and help make the Berkshires thrive.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission is the fiscal host for this project. The coordinator for this project is Andy Ottoson. If you have any questions about this program, please email us or call 413-442-1521 x37.