Author: Cindy Friedman

US District Judge Gerald McHugh ruled that operating a center where people can use illegal drugs under medical supervision does not violate federal law. Although the Philadelphia court does not have jurisdiction over Massachusetts, McHugh’s decision is expected to have an impact nationwide. It is the first court ruling to poke holes in a key argument of opponents — one repeatedly made by Governor Charlie Baker — that such a facility cannot open because it violates federal law.

The Philadelphia ruling “is absolutely the correct interpretation of the crack house legislation,” said Massachusetts state Senator Cindy F. Friedman, who served on a state commission that recommended opening a safe injection site in Massachusetts. “Of course that statute wasn’t meant for people who want to save lives,” she said. “It’s absurd that anyone would think that.” Friedman said the ruling provides “some good momentum to move this forward” in Massachusetts.

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Two local police officers, forced to retire after facing death in the line of duty, are battling for a bill that would provide violently injured cops with benefits to spare them an added financial burden.

The officers told their stories Tuesday to the Joint Committee on Public Service during a hearing at the State House, pushing for a piece of legislation filed by Sen. Cindy Friedman that would give severely injured police officers 100% of their regular pay until they reach retirement age and then 80% of their pension. They noted that if the bill passes, they won’t receive the benefits, but urged the committee to report it out favorably.

“It is unconscionable and, frankly, insulting that we force police officers who have suffered a life-altering injury to go through such a burdensome and emotionally straining process to receive the benefits necessary to sustain themselves and their families after such a tragic event,’ said Friedman. “Surely, it is the least we can do.”

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BOSTON — Two police officers who were forced to retire due to line of duty injuries are advocating for state legislation that would improve benefits for all Massachusetts public safety officers, including corrections officers and firefighters. One piece of legislation, which was proposed by state Sen. Cindy Friedman, would increase compensation from 72% to 100% of regular for officers forced to retire due to a violent, accidental disability. Once they reach the age of mandatory retirement, they would become eligible for 80% of their pension, including cost of living increases.

“We expect our officers to show up for us when we need them. I think it’s fair that we support them,” Friedman said. “To put this in context: since 1947, roughly 40 municipal police officers would have been automatically eligible to receive the benefits associated with this legislation.”

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On Thursday, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery heard more than four hours of testimony on bills that would end the practice of sending men who are civilly committed for addiction, because they pose a danger to themselves or others, to a prison-based treatment facility if a bed is unavailable at a facility run by the state’s health care agencies. Massachusetts is currently the only state that uses prisons for civil commitments.

“Individuals struggling with substance use disorder or alcohol addiction are not criminals,” said Sen. Cindy Friedman, D-Arlington, who sponsored the bill, S.1145/H.1700, with Rep. Ruth Balser, D-Newton. “They are suffering from a disease. They must be treated. They should not be punished.”

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Yang, along with LHS senior Michelle Tom and 10 other students, organized and promoted the Lexington Climate Strike, which took place on Friday, Sept. 20.

At 10 a.m., hundreds of students walked out of class and gathered on the LHS football field, holding signs with messages like “Our Future is Not for Profit,” and ‘Denial is Over!’ The students were also joined by older members of the Lexington community. State Representative Michelle Ciccolo and State Senators Mike Barrett and Cindy Friedman were also in attendance.

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Members of the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association has launched what it calls a landmark initiative providing expanded medication-assisted treatment options to those with opioid-use disorder at correctional facilities in seven counties.

“While we need to continue our efforts to end the criminalization of substance use disorder and mental illness, we must do everything we can to meet the needs of those who are currently incarcerated,” said Sen. Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), who helped champion the 2018 comprehensive opioid treatment bill that established the pilot.  “The creation of this program is an important and ground-breaking step toward addressing substance use disorder within corrections so that people can get the medication they need and have the opportunity to recover. I want to thank my Senate colleagues, the Governor, the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association, and all of the stakeholders involved for their collaboration and commitment to making this program a reality.”

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ARLINGTON — A standing room only crowd packed the Regent Theatre in Arlington for a panel on substance abuse and the premiere screening of the short documentary “Shattered” about the life of former professional hockey player Kevin Stevens.

The panelists included Stevens, two-time Stanley Cup champion and recovering addict, state Senator Cindy Friedman of Arlington, Dr. Michael Hamrock, addiction specialist from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, and Becky Savage, a self-professed hockey mom and educator, who lost her two hockey sons to OxyContin overdose at a graduation party from South Bend, Indiana.

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In a major shift in how jails are treating prisoners with drug addiction, seven county jails began a pilot program Sept. 1 in which they will offer inmates all three FDA-approved forms of medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. Since Sunday, the seven jails have provided medication to around 100 inmates.

Sen. Cindy Friedman, D-Arlington, who helped craft the pilot program as last year’s chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, said nearly 75% of those incarcerated in county jails have a substance use problem. Friedman said jailing people for addiction has not worked; the system must offer treatment. Providing medication-assisted treatment in jail, she said, “provides people with a pathway to recovery and helps reduce recidivism throughout the system.’’

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