WESTFIELD – Westfield Promise students past and present, and teacher Kristen Biancuzzo, went all out for the premiere of the original student documentary, “Breaking the Silence,” about the impact of the opioid epidemic in Westfield. Three years in the making, the film debuted on June 11 in Westfield High School along with an interactive art display and a panel discussion that lasted an hour beyond the film.

Beginning with student greeters Layla Bermejo-Verdugo, Adedunni Soyele, Sandra Odunukwe, Cailyn Crean and Brooklyn Borges, who welcomed moviegoers on a red carpet at the entrance, the high school was transformed to bring information, hope and inspiration to the tragedy of addiction and loss.

Before the start of the film, visitors were led to the art display in the cafeteria, which featured pieces from the broken bowl project, photographs taken by students to inspire comments which will be turned into poetry, and panels from the Wall of Hope, where family members and friends had written poignant messages to loved ones who are struggling or have been lost to substance abuse.

The broken bowl project is taken from the Japanese art of Kintsugi pottery, mending broken pieces and creating a beautiful new whole piece.

“It is recognizing that the scars that life brings to us does not make us ugly but rather turns us into something of great beauty,” according to the description in the exhibit.

The bowls on display were made by people associated with the “Breaking the Silence” project, all of whom had experienced some sort of trauma or great difficulty to overcome this year.
Visitors were also invited to decorate luminaria bags which lined the exit walkway.

Sophomore Ella Hamel, who contributed an original song to the film, played her ukulele and sang songs as people viewed the exhibit. Hamel will be enrolled in Westfield Promise next year.

Helping agencies lined the hallways between the cafeteria and auditorium, including Tapestry, which is opening a new office at 17 E. Silver St., Westfield, over the next few weeks. Employee Robert Ortiz said the office will distribute Narcan and other harm reduction items such as clean needles, along with referrals to programs.

Also present were Jessica Bekech of Westfield Against Addiction, an active Facebook group that offers information and encouragement to people in the community, as was a representative from Learn2Cope.org, which offers online support groups in English and Spanish and will be starting in person meetings in Easthampton. DART, which stands for the Drug Addiction and Recovery Team, and offers training to police officers about drug abuse and addiction also had a table. A DART staff member said 17 police officers in Westfield have received the training.

Kathi Cotugno, the former coordinator of CORE (Colition for Outreach Recovery and Education) in Westfield who will now be working for DART, was one of the panelists who spoke and answered questions following the film. Cotugno was also interviewed in the film, providing information and speaking as a mother who lost her son Adam to a fatal overdose in February of 2016.

State Sen. John Velis was also interviewed in the film, recalling the weekend in 2016 when the Westfield community lost three lives due to drugs laced with fentanyl, only a few weeks after he became the city’s state representative. He said it was the most difficult period of his time in government service. Velis and Mayor Michael McCabe both attended the premiere.

The interviews in the film were conducted by Westfield Promise students three years ago with providers, family members who had suffered loss, a member of the Westfield Police Department and people in recovery. In introducing the film, Biancuzzo said they didn’t realize then how many challenges the production would face, including shutdowns due to COVID-19 and broken equipment.

However, since the first 11th grade Westfield Promise English students who started the project, some of whom attended the premiere, succeeding classes have continued it, writing original songs, poetry and the script for the documentary.

Biancuzzo credited Ben Roberts, a Champlain College student whose mother works at Westfield High School, for taking the hundreds of hours of footage and editing it into 40 minutes. She also apologized to people whose footage was not able to be used, saying that their participation also contributed to the film. She thanked all the individuals who allowed 16-year-olds to interview them for the film.

Besides Cotugno, panelists who answered questions after the film included Maria P. Sotolongo, director of the District Attorney’s Drug Diversion and Treatment Program in Northampton, police officer Gary Hagar, community police officer Eric Hall, firefighter and EMT Ben Hogan and Gabe Quinones of Tapestry, who also spoke as a person in recovery. Westfield Promise student Lily Taglieri, who also designed the “Breaking the Silence” poster, served as moderator.

One of the themes during the question-and-answer period was the potency and deadliness of fentanyl. Quinones said the pills that are being bought on the street are no longer pharmaceuticals, they’re fentanyl that is made to mimic pharmaceuticals. He said since fentanyl doesn’t process well in the stomach, addicts will snort it, which will kill them.

Cotugno said that fentanyl was present in 93 percent of the 2,119 fatal overdoses in Massachusetts in 2021. She also said that substance use disorder is a mental illness and not something that people can overcome without treatment and help.

“Look around. Everybody has to be treated individually. It is your life; we try to help. It is a crisis in this country, and we have to talk about it. Spread the word,” said Sotolongo.

Panelists also gave recommendations on ways and resources to help loved ones.

“As a person in recovery, ask them what is their need at the moment,” said Quinones, suggesting talking one on one and helping to arrange counseling.

Several people recommended having Narcan, a drug that can reverse the effects of an overdose, more widely available.

“Narcan is a rescue drug like an EpiPen. Still call 911 – it doesn’t last forever,” said Hogan. Narcan is available through Tapestry, DART and the Police Department, he said.

Hall said it is different for every person, adding that if there were a formula, it would be easier.

“Stay away from vapes, alcohol and cigarettes. Be a friend to your friends,” he said, addressing the young people in the audience.

Hall said as a 48-year-old man who has never had a drink, he and his best friend since seventh grade, who is in the same boat, did everything together. He recommended talking to Westfield High School adjustment counselor Carrie Fiordalice, who is also interviewed in the film.

“Say no the first time. Don’t do it, say no. I know that’s difficult to hear, but it may be your last time,” Cotugno said.