Brodeur Intern Pens Editorial On MCI Framingham Legislation

MELROSE, MA—The fight against the opioid epidemic is one sweeping the nation, particularly one that is making waves across the Commonwealth.

An intern of State Rep. Paul Brodeur—who represents the communities of Melrose, Wakefield and Malden—penned an editorial regarding a new law which highlights the struggles of women suffering from opioid addiction.

Gov. Charlie Baker recently signed legislation prohibiting the civil commitment of women facing substance misuse disorders to MCI-Framingham and provide addiction treatment services at Shattuck and Taunton State Hospitals.

Below is the editorial, courtesy of State Rep. Brodeur's office:

My name is Mary Blunt and I am originally from Nashua, N.H but now attend Wheelock College and live in Boston, M.A. I am studying political science and my interests involve inequality issues linked to race, class, and gender that affect all Americans at many different levels. It is my belief that certain widespread problems such as substance abuse are directly related to the inequalities and should not be treated as a personal problem of addiction but instead a mental health condition.

In 2014 the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts filed a lawsuit with the goal of ending the commonwealth’s practice of committing women struggling with addiction to the Framingham correctional facility. This procedure of committing women to MCIFramingham was an illustration of how mental health, class, and gender were all playing a key role in regards to treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. Private rehabilitation programs vary in duration and cost, but many residential programs can cost up to $15,000. The cost of private rehabilitation is a symbol of status, although addiction is something that affects countless individuals and families.

Historically, women have had an entirely different experience than men when it comes to the stigma of addiction, particularly in terms of Massachusetts policy and practice related to civil commitment for substance abuse disorders. Whereas men in Massachusetts have several different resources to access in terms of civil commitment (hospitals among them), women had only one option, - civil commitment at MCI-Framingham. MCI Framingham is a prison. Simply put, a prison designed to incarcerate women convicted of criminal offenses is not an appropriate place for the observation of treatment of women who have not been convicted of anything.

Demonstrating Massachusetts’s progress toward a comprehensive strategy for providing support to those with substance use disorders, the legislature passed a bill ensuring that women would no longer be sent to prison as a way to treat the illness of addiction. Governor Baker, signed a bill on January 25, 2016. Importantly, the new law also amended the language used to describe individuals struggling with addiction. That language used focuses on addressing addiction as a mental health condition needing a public health solution rather than an individual fault. The overall goal of ending the process of women being sent to a correctional facility and instead being sent to a hospital for treatment is extremely important. However, it is also important that this law creates a more progressive overall approach to substance use disorder treatment and mental health awareness.

The ACLU lawsuit provided the necessary push towards better treatment, especially for women in the state of Massachusetts. Although there are many inequalities that continue to face our nation, it is imperative to create a broader awareness for effective medical treatment and hospitalization for substance use disorder. Hopefully this push from the ACLU, and the bill signed into effect by Governor Baker will pave the way for further legislation aimed at successful treatment for substance use disorder and decrease the stigma and shame surrounding addiction.