Berkshire Substance Abuse
Substances and their effect on teenagers in and out of PHS
By Aiden Hyatt (2025) 9/7/2022
Substance abuse is a big problem in our community and school that is often ignored. Even when addressed, the attempted solution is inadequate.
For a mandatory civics project in 8th grade, I created a video showcasing the statistics of substances in our county. I interviewed three people, one of which being the Berkshire D.A., Andrea Harrington. Each person gave a different perspective on substance abuse, from the medical aspect, to the legal aspect, and how substances affect a school environment. Oftentimes the results were horrifying, tragic and eye-opening. They led to one conclusion: Berkshire county has an overwhelming problem with substance abuse.
Most people don’t know it’s happening or don’t realize it is as big of a problem as it is. Why is that? The answer is often that people are good at hiding it. People can often get these substances from other students at school, or friends. But another answer is unfortunate; we do see it, we just don’t realize it. Oftentimes substances are very present, they are so normal to us and our environment that we don’t really think of them as a problem, only as a pest. That is not good. To show the sheer prevalence of the issue, I did some more research of my own. On my way to school from the Elm street area I counted how many pieces of addictive substances I found. It was a saddening ten minute walk in which I counted cigarettes, shot bottles, vapes, etc. From my home to the PHS front entrance, I found thirty one pieces of addictive substances--Eight of which were on school property. Though substance issues are not always slapping us in the face, this proves that they are here. Just take for example that opioid usage caused deaths in Pittsfield have increased by eight percent in the last year. No matter how subtle it is, substance abuse is always a huge issue.
To get a better understanding of how substances are affecting students at PHS and how we can help, I asked questions to the Brien Center’s Case Manager for Out/In Patient Substance Care, Allyson Rohane. Allyson Rohane works at the Brien center and she comes to PHS every Thursday in an effort to explain substance abuse to students. These answers were her response:
“How often does substance abuse occur in PHS (roughly)?”
“From what I’m aware of, the numbers are decently high.”
“How do counselors like yourself go about helping an individual who suffers from substance abuse?”
“We work with a couple different techniques. I do Project AMP which is a strengths-based program with aspects finding support and creating a better quality of life. We teach how to recognize, identify, and regulate emotions and behaviors. There is also an educational component to teach about substances and alcohol. We work towards abstinence but also focus on harm reduction which is education surrounding ways to lower use or use safely if abstinence isn’t an option. Sometimes kids are using to experiment and sometimes they use because there is something going on in their life and it’s a way to self-medicate. Some people don’t know that using a substance is a problem if it’s in their home. There’s many reasons why people use, so figuring out the cause usually helps in figuring out a solution. Then we work on small goals that help the student get to where they want to be.”
“What can an average student like myself do to help this issue, both generally and in the presence of someone they know is suffering?”
“Support can be a huge factor in someone’s recovery. There is still a big stigma surrounding substance use so many people are afraid to reach out and ask for help. Being nonjudgmental and offering support during this difficult time is extremely important. Offering services and assistance to educational programs can help. Letting the person know you care about them and are worried can also help, but don’t be aggressive. People can be ashamed or may not even realize they have a problem. Talking to the school counselors can also be beneficial or finding a teacher they trust can work.”
It was good to get Allyson’s point of view, it gave us a good understanding of what to do if you or someone you know has trouble, and how to help the issue as a whole. What we did in health class several days later was also eye opening however. A former substance user, Jana, came to Mrs. Soules' health class for the day–she also did this for this year's first quarter classes. She told her tale, and to give a different perspective, I would like to summarize below:
Jana comes from a long line of addiction, having many relatives who have suffered through it. She saw overdoses and usage plenty as a child and tried for many years to keep from substances because of that. When she was a teenager she would experiment with alcohol and marijuana and could never seem to get enough, her cravings growing worse and worse by the day. When she graduated from PHS, she joined the military and continued to stay away from substances. When she came back home however, she had knee surgery, was prescribed pain relievers and became addicted after her body grew dependent on the drugs. She experienced withdrawal from an absence of pain relievers and continued to take them to prevent the symptoms. She slowly went down a spiral of other drugs for an upward of a decade, spending thousands of dollars on heroin specifically. When she noticed that the amount of work needed to maintain her habits was affecting how much time she could spend with her daughters, however, she seeked help. She was in rehab for years, fighting off her cravings alongside many different people from all walks of life. Lawyers, judges and business workers; people from high and low, rich and poor.. Substance abuse is a disease which does not discriminate. Jana pointed that out intensively, because she thought after she made it through high school she would be home free, but substance abuse didn't care, it was relentless, and she became addicted as a young adult. She has now been sober for many years, and lives a substance free life with her daughters.
Mrs. Soules continues to educate people on substance abuse and be a positive source of assistance. She has students listen to multiple guest speakers to give them a perspective on the issue and strives to be a reliable source of help and information. If you or someone you know within PHS is struggling with substance abuse, I highly suggest contacting Mrs. Soules as a first step. She will keep everything private and confidential, and give the best advice possible having been someone with experience in the subject.
Substance abuse can be challenging when seen individually. While most people attempting to eradicate substance abuse look at it as a whole, the best way to end this epidemic is to help individuals. If you see someone struggling, follow Allyson Rohane’s advice and get them help. If every individual struggling gets help, the problem as a whole will end; it will be then that we have given an adequate solution for our community and our school.