STEVE LeBLANC, Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts is ending its longstanding practice of sending women with alcohol or substance abuse problems but who have committed no crimes to the state prison for women in Framingham.
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday signed a bill approved last week by the Democratic-controlled Legislature that will give women access to addiction treatment services at Shattuck and Taunton state hospitals.
Massachusetts law allows a doctor or family member to ask a court to involuntarily commit individuals believed to be a danger because of alcohol or substance abuse.
State officials have been promising since 1987 to stop civil commitments to the prison.
The bill was signed as House and Senate negotiators continue working on the final version of wide-ranging legislation to address the state’s deadly opioid addiction crisis. The estimated cost of the change is about $5.8 million during the 2016 fiscal year that ends June 30.
Baker signed the bill during a Statehouse news conference.
“I can now say the commonwealth of Mass. will no longer be sending women to prison who need treatment,” Baker said. “This is a great day for women who have been seeking help dealing with substance abuse disorders.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said that 28 beds are open at Shattuck and 15 at Taunton. She said by the end of the fiscal year, a total of 60 beds should be available.
Sudders said six women are currently committed at the state prison in Framingham.
Attorney General Maura Healey said the change will also help bring peace of mind to the families of women battling substance abuse.
“Those families will have better assurance that as they seek relief for their loved ones … that they’re going to be sent to a place where they’ll get the care and the treatment that they so desperately need,” said Healey, a Democrat.
Democratic leaders in the House and Senate acknowledged that the change should have happened long ago.
Senate President Stan Rosenberg said the biggest reason for the sudden urgency was the fact that the problem of overdoses and addiction is no longer seen as affecting a narrow slice of society based on class, race and socioeconomic factors.
“When certain communities were where most of the activity took place, society in general saw it as a crime,” Rosenberg said. “As soon as it became a widespread situation effecting communities all across the commonwealth, people from all economic backgrounds … it suddenly changed from a crime to a disease.”
The new law comes as Massachusetts grapples with an ongoing opioid abuse crisis.
Massachusetts health officials said there were nearly 1,100 confirmed cases of unintentional opioid overdose deaths in 2014, a 65-percent increase from the 668 confirmed cases in 2012.
“With the support of the legislature and Attorney General, our administration is proud to have delivered on a promise that took more than 30 years to fulfill,” said Governor Baker. “Now, women with substance abuse disorder who are civilly committed will not be sent to MCI Framingham and will have the opportunity to get treatment instead of jail time.”
Addiction is a disease and must be treated as such,” said House Speaker Robert DeLeo. “By ending the practice of sending civilly committed women to MCI-Framingham we are taking one more step to helping residents – our sisters, mothers, daughters, wives – recover. I’m proud of the landmark substance addiction legislation we have passed and the unprecedented funding increases for treatment, and I pledge unwavering commitment to fighting this devastating epidemic.”
“The bill ends the practice of treating women with substance abuse issues like criminals,” said Rosenberg. “We need to treat substance abuse like the disease it is and provide access to treatment in an appropriate setting so these women have an opportunity to get on a path to recovery.”
“People who are hooked on heroin and opioids need treatment and care,” said Healey. “This new law will end the practice of sending women struggling with addiction to prison without access to the treatment services they need. As we continue to battle this epidemic, it’s critical we get people real help that will give them a fighting chance at a better life.”
