Why a Fall River nonprofit is handing out free crack pipes and needles

Key Points:

• A state-funded harm reduction program in Fall River, run by Seven Hills Behavioral Health, distributes free drug-use supplies such as crack pipes, syringes, and naloxone to prevent overdoses and disease spread, but it faces criticism from some city leaders and residents who believe it may enable continued drug use.
• Fall River City Councilor Christopher Peckham, whose family has been personally affected by addiction, questions the program's use of taxpayer money and advocates for focusing more on treating addiction rather than distributing drug-use supplies.
• The Massachusetts Department of Public Health supports the program as part of a statewide harm reduction policy aimed at reducing overdose risks and infectious diseases, allocating approximately $6.5 million for such initiatives, with Seven Hills playing a significant role in naloxone distribution in Fall River.
• Despite a slight decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths in Fall River in 2025, the city’s overdose death rate remains about 2.5 times higher than the statewide average, highlighting the ongoing severity of the crisis.
• Seven Hills declined multiple interview requests but issued a statement defending its harm reduction efforts, while city officials continue to seek accountability and have invited the organization to discuss the program with the city council, though Seven Hills requested Department of Public Health representation to attend.