Rhode Island
RI needs to give harm reduction workers all the support possible | Opinion
Katherine Dunham is a harm reductionist and researcher at the People, Place and Health Collective at the Brown University School of Public Health.
In January 2022, Rhode Island joined the national opioid settlement which provided over $90 million for state and local efforts to address the overdose crisis. It’s imperative that these funds be used to comprehensively and equitably support the well-being of harm reduction staff — the front-line workers who will be carrying out many of those lifesaving efforts.
Harm reduction is a set of strategies that addresses the negative outcomes associated with drug use. Notably, research has found that those working in the field — harm reduction workers — face common stressors in their roles such as overextension, grief and feelings of burnout, all of which take a toll on staff members’ mental health and all of which are exacerbated by the growing overdose crisis.
More: Do safe injection sites increase crime rates? What a Brown University study found.
Additionally, studies out of Philadelphia and Massachusetts found that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, harm reduction organizations were experiencing staff shortages, staff members were unable to work remotely, and staff were experiencing significant feelings of isolation. Working in harm reduction myself during this time, I felt these feelings of loss, exhaustion and tension firsthand, and saw that organizations often didn’t have the resources to sufficiently address them.
Rhode Island has a long history of supporting harm reduction and a recent report found that there is currently an “unprecedented demand” for harm reduction services in the state. While it’s wonderful that opioid settlement funds are being used to create and expand these services, it’s critical that we properly support the well-being of the local harm reduction workers who will be providing these lifesaving services. Such funding could be used to support facilitators of staff well-being, such as sufficient pay, job security and benefits. It will also be important to speak directly with local harm reduction workers about what support they most need and formally support the ways in which staff members have already been taking care of themselves and their coworkers.
Importantly, Rhode Island has already begun to allocate funds in this way. This month, it was announced that opioid settlement funds are being used to create a million dollar grant that will fund trauma support for local peer specialists and first responders. This prioritization of peer specialists’ well-being is especially key since these staff members often face unique stressors while working in the field but often receive less institutional support. That being said, the implementation of this grant will be incredibly important. These funds need to be made known and made easily accessible to local harm reduction organizations; this is especially important given that harm reduction workers often don’t have access to the same level of occupational resources and benefits as the other named first responders.
More: From addiction to advocate: RI’s mission to help pregnant mothers battling with substance use
Additionally, it’s critical that the state makes sustained, long-term commitments to support harm reduction workers beyond this specific grant, funding additional support services and creating opportunities for workers more broadly. That being said, this grant is an important, early example of ways in which states and localities can use opioid settlement funds to support harm reduction workers’ mental health.
We need to set harm reduction staff up as best as possible to implement these new initiatives and save lives. If not, we will just be putting additional pressure on a workforce that’s already burdened by many mental health stressors. In this way, opioid settlement funds are an important and hopeful opportunity to explicitly allocate funds for this purpose.

Rhode Island
Providence man arrested in connection to narcotics and firearms investigation | ABC6

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island State Police said a Providence man was arrested after police allegedly discovered multiple narcotics and a gun inside two residences on Sept. 23.
47-year-old Joel Garcia was charged with possession with the intent to deliver over 1 kilogram of fentanyl, possession with the intent to deliver over 1 kilogram of cocaine, possession with the intent to deliver one ounce to one kilogram of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to deliver fentanyl, possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, possession with the intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession of a firearm while committing a controlled substance violation, unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and distribution of a controlled substance in a school zone.
According to RISP, police received court-authorized search warrants for two residences in Providence in connection to a narcotics and firearms investigation.
Inside an apartment on Dresser Street, police allegedly seized 1.7 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.3 kilograms of cocaine, and 147 grams of methamphetamine.
Police also searched Garcia’s residence on Portland Street and allegedly seized one fully loaded pistol.
According to police, Garcia had allegedly used the apartment on Dresser Street to “store, package, and distribute large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.”
Garcia was arrested and charged.
RISP, Providence police, Cranston police, North Providence police, Johnston police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Rhode Island National Guard Counterdrug Program assisted in the investigation.
Rhode Island
The Ocean State’s Bond With Robert Redford

Millions have been mourning the death of a cinematic icon over the last week with the passing of Robert Redford at age 89.
The award-winning actor is arguably one of the most famous of all time. With over 70 films to his credit on screen and nine he directed throughout his career, Redford’s work in cinema stands out as some of the greatest.
Though only two of Redford’s movies were ever filmed in Rhode Island, the Oscar-winning actor has a deep connection with the Ocean State.
Redford’s Family Roots Near Rhode Island
Though no Redfords actually lived in Rhode Island, Robert’s family was longtime residents of Stonington, CT and several members were born in nearby Westerly, RI.
READ MORE: ‘Sopranos’ Star Officially Becomes a Rhode Island Resident
Throughout Robert Redford’s childhood there were visits to his grandparents in Stonington, where his grandfather worked as a milkman.
Presumably this time in Stonington meant crossing the state line into Westerly on more than one occasion in his youth and perhaps led to his love of the Rhode Island seaside in later years.
Filming The Great Gatsby in Newport
During his career, Redford came to Newport in the 1970s to film The Great Gatsby at the historic Rosecliff Mansion. Decades later he returned to Rhode Island with the science fiction film The Discovery and even wrote a thank you letter to Newport, praising their preservation efforts in the city.
READ MORE: HGTV Says You Need to Drive This Road in Newport
Though when he did ultimately settle in New England, Redford chose Weston, CT as his home for almost two decades. He purchased a home not too far from his close friend and fellow actor, Paul Newman.
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Rhode Island Honors Robert Redford
Rhode Island never forgot its ties to the beloved actor however. In 2002 Redford was asked to be the commencement speaker at Brown University and that same year Trinity Repertory Company awarded him a Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.
Just one of the many lifetime achievement awards Robert Redford would go on to accumulate during his illustrious career.
20 Stars Who Hail From Rhode Island
Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the nation, but it has been home to many celebrities. Though some have moved here, filmed here or attended school here, only a handful were actually born here. These are those celebrities.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
Academy Award and Golden Globe Winners from Massachusetts
These Massachusetts natives have taken home some of Hollywood’s top honors.
Gallery Credit: Michaela Johnson
30 Things To Do in Newport Any Time of Year
Newport has always been seen as a summer destination. Wealthy New Yorkers used to escape the city in the hotter months for this picturesque seaside spot and the label as a summer vacation destination began.
There are, however, plenty of things to do in this historic town in any season and we’ve found a few that you may want to try the next time you head to Newport.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
Rhode Island
GoLocalProv | Sports | VIDEO: Providence’s Lassiter Scores 44-Yard TD in Vanderbilt’s Upset Over #11 South Carolina

Sunday, September 14, 2025
Zell Lassiter
PHOTO: Via Vanderbilt
Providence’s Jamezell Lassiter had a big play on a huge stage on Saturday when Vanderbilt football upset #11 South Carolina. SEE 7:25 MARK.
Lassiter, who played for the Edgewood Eagles and the Mount Hope Cowboys and attended the San Miguel School in Providence, smoked the Gamecocks on a 44-yard touchdown score.
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Vanderbilt won 31-7 over No. 11 South Carolina, snapping a 16-game losing streak between the two programs.
Zell Lassiter PHOTO: Vanderbilt Athletics
In 2024, GoLocal sports columnist Robert McMahon wrote about Lassiter’s journey to the top Division I program:
His athletic skills impressed his San Miguel classmates. Flag football, soccer, basketball—Jamezell could do it all. He was a natural athlete.
But the transformation of Zell, as he likes to be called, happened in the San Miguel classroom.
READ MORE HERE
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