Crack Pipes, Cookers, And Other Drug Paraphernalia: A Look Inside Seven Hills Fall River, New Bedford” Harm Reduction” Bags

I received a tip that Seven Hills, a non-profit that operates in Massachusetts, was handing out “harm reduction” bags to the homeless in Fall River. Harm reduction bags are controversial; advocates say the supplies in the bags reduce the spread of disease and provide health benefits while opponents say it enable drug users by providing them with everything they need to do drugs. After reviewing the Seven Hills harm reduction bag, it’s easy to see that it does both.

These bags aren’t a secret, but most of the public is likely not aware exactly what’s in them. While I got ahold of a bag in Fall River, I’ve been told these are also handed out in New Bedford. Here is the brown, paper bag marked “Seven Hills” that I received.

There were five plastic bags located in the paper bag, three bags of supplies and two bags containing 10 new syringes each.

Here’s a look at the 20 total needles that form the basis of the bag.

Seven Hills website does mention “Syringe Services Programming” but it’s very broad and no mention of how expansive the products offered in these harm reduction backs.

There is no mention of the other three bags of supplies that are the most controversial.

Supply bag 1: For heroin, meth, crack and cocaine users

The first bag I opened contained two glass crack pipes.

Bands to help someone shooting up find a vein and antiseptic towels for after injecting a needle.

A mirror and a plastic razor to cut cocaine, heroin or other powder, and a tiny spoon if snorting drugs is your thing.

There was also a French-made Stericup used for cooking drugs like heroin. Think of how drug users use a spoon to cook and a cotton ball to filer solid items and that’s what this replaces.

Finally, some solution for your cooker and lip balm because often meth, cocaine and other drug users suffer from severe dry mouth which leads to cracked lips.

Supply bag 2: condoms, bleach, sterile pads and more cooking tools

The second bag contained solution and two aluminum cookers with cotton to filter insoluble particles, condoms, band-aids, sterile pads and bleach.

Supply Bag 3: More of the same.

The third bag was similar to the second bag, but with a different condom brand.

My visit to Seven Hills in Fall River

I decided to verify that the harm reduction bag I received. I found the address on 130 S. Main Street in Fall River and a name on their website, Connie Rocha-Mimoso, the Director of Community Health Services.

I stopped by the Fall River location and asked for Connie. A woman at the front desk stated Connie was in the New Bedford office, so I asked if there was a manager and she stated “they are all in New Bedford” (I guess New Bedford really needs help?).

Instead of grabbing a second bag, I simply wanted to verify that the Fall River Seven Hills location was giving out harm reduction bags, so I asked the woman if I could get an inventory list of the contents in the harm reduction bags that they are handing out. She had no issue with it and made me a copy of two pages of items they give out which I will publish in a follow up article.

Seven Hills is mostly funded with public funds

Seven Hills is mostly publicly funded and at the state level. Massachusetts allocates $6.5 million for its Harm Reduction through Syringe Access budget (Line Item 4512-0206) which means much of the state is handing out these harm reduction bags. I will follow up with more on that later.

I visited with Fall River City Council President Cliff Ponte, Mayor Paul Coogan and State Rep. Alan Silvia to get statements and I will publish their response in a follow up article as well.