Pubdate: Thu, 28 Apr 2005
Source: Roslindale-West Roxbury Transcript (MA)
Contact:  http://www2.townonline.com/roslindale/
Address: 254 Second Avenue, Needham, MA 02494
Copyright: 2005 Community Newspaper Company
Copyright: 2005 Community Newspaper Company

FLAHERTY AND TURNER FIGHTING LOCAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE

City Council President Michael F. Flaherty and Councilor Chuck Turner 
recently joined forces to fight substance abuse by offering a proposal that 
would give half of the money seized from drug dealers to the Boston Public 
Health Commission for drug treatment. "Treatment is taking a back seat to 
the war on drugs," said Flaherty. "We have some of the best colleges and 
hospitals in the world, but when it comes to detoxing our youth, we drop 
the ball."

Currently, state law dictates that the money be split between the Suffolk 
district attorney's office and the Boston Police Department. Under the 
legislation, the police share would go to the Public Health Commission.

While Flaherty understands the police are using the money for a good 
purpose, he said they benefit from thousands in grant money while the 
treatment world "doesn't get nearly as much - and they need it now."

In their legislation, the councilors cited a 2003 national survey that 
found that Boston had the highest rate of reported illegal-substance use 
among major metropolitan areas. According to the Public Health Commission, 
Boston's rate of heroin-related visits to emergency rooms is three times 
greater than the national average. Boston also has the nation's highest 
rate of emergency department visits for OxyCodone-related overdoses.

"Parents tell me all the time how their children started out taking the 
occasional OxyContin pill and quickly ended up heroin addicts," said 
Flaherty. "Make no doubt about it, this is a citywide problem that does not 
discriminate between color, neighborhood, upbringing or social status - it 
affects everyone and we are losing generations of kids to it."

"I am hoping we can pass this piece of legislation and get the resources 
needed to throw more lifelines to kids seeking treatment. If we focus on 
the front end with treatment and recovery, we'll save a tremendous amount 
over the long haul. Like the old adage says, an ounce of prevention is 
worth a pound of cure," Flaherty said.

Flaherty's and Turner's proposal was referred to the Committee on 
Government Operations where it currently awaits a hearing date.