If substance use disorder is an illness, then why do we continue to criminalize people who are suffering from it? (“Treatment not jails,” Aug. 18).
Only Massachusetts civilly commits male substance use disorder patients to jail, including to the jail in Hampden County. According to the New York Times (“Treatment Facilities’ Aren’t What You Think They Are,” Sept. 3, 2019 ), “patients are required to wear orange uniforms, carry a badge with the word ‘inmate’ and are monitored by corrections officers, without having committed a criminal offense. Patients can’t even have visitors. Moreover, unlike at treatment centers not tied to the judicial system, judges can override clinicians’ recommendations in making medical decisions in involuntary commitment cases.”
This June, after a year of study, a Massachusetts state commission formed to study civilly committing people with substance use disorder under Section 35 voted to recommend that the state be prohibited from sending people to jails for addiction treatment. Simultaneously, a class action lawsuit was brought by Prisoners’ Legal Services, which would end this practice.
Legislation to end it has been introduced by Rep. Ruth Balser and Sen. Cindy Friedman (H1700/S1145). This legislation is supported by both Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa and Sen. Jo Comerford, along with many others.
I certainly do not disagree about the overwhelming need for treatment for people with substance use disorder. However, as long as the enormous investment in jails in the commonwealth continues, money for community-based treatment centers will receive short shrift and the cycle of incarcerating people suffering from addictions will continue.
Lisa Baskin
Leeds