As you enjoy a very nutritious helping or two of Thanksgiving dinner this week, here's some interesting happenings in Massachusetts public health law for you to chew on (haaa).
Read moreBriefly: Massachusetts Governor Proposes New Crime of Manslaughter for 'Drug Dealers'
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker filed legislation yesterday which would, among other things, create a new crime of manslaughter for drug dealers if a person dies from using their drugs. Specifically, anyone who "manufactures, distributes, or dispenses" any controlled substance would be "strictly liable" if "a death...results from the injection, inhalation, or ingestion of that substance."
Read moreThe Wrong Path: Involuntary Treatment and the Opioid Crisis [from The Crime Report] →
PHLW's Leo Beletsky and Elisabeth Ryan wrote about the increasing use of "Section 35" commitments in Massachusetts over at The Crime Report. This law allows people with substance use disorders to be committed involuntarily to a secure facility for up to 90 days. This is not the way to handle the opioid crisis.
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