A drug counselor sees the perils of jailing her son for addiction

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Prison is for Criminals –

Nov. 2, 2019 – Wallace turned to a Massachusetts state law called Section 35, which allows a family member, doctor or law enforcement official to petition a court to involuntarily commit an individual for up to 90 days for substance abuse treatment. Concerned about Sean’s physical and mental health as well as his safety, Wallace said using a “section,” as the tool is colloquially known, seemed like a good idea. She had worked as a clinical director at a Section 35 program for women and believed her son would get similar treatment.

But it was in the courtroom while Sean was being committed by the judge that Wallace first got an indication that the treatment center her son was being sent to was not what she thought it was going to be. At the hearing, Sean turned to her and said that he didn’t think he would be able to continue taking methadone, a prescription drug used to treat opioid addictions.