A bill that would end the decades-old practice of sending men committed to substance use disorder treatments to jail got a nod of approval from former President Barack Obama’s drug czar. Michael Botticelli called the Massachusetts law — the only state in the country with such a mandate — ineffective, inhumane and costly for taxpayers.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Ruth Balser of Newton and Sen. Cindy Friedman of Arlington, would eliminate the practice for both men and women. It would require any civilly committed people to be treated at a facility run by the Department of Public Health or the Department of Mental Health, instead of the Department of Corrections.