BOSTON, Nov. 5, 2015—Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley and his colleagues across Massachusetts today expressed their unanimous support for legislation proposed by Governor Charlie Baker to tackle a statewide epidemic of opioid abuse.

“As law enforcement officials, we see first-hand every day the devastating effect of heroin, fentanyl, OxyContin, and other opioids on individuals and communities,” Conley wrote on behalf of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association to Senator Jennifer Flanagan and Representative Elizabeth Malia, chairs of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse. “While law enforcement must and does play a vital role in response to this problem, it cannot operate alone or in isolation.”

Copies of the district attorneys’ letter were also delivered to Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, and House Speaker Robert DeLeo.  [Click here to read the letter: Opioid Bill – Letter to Chair Jennifer Flanagan]

Among the key components of the bill are a restriction on the number of opiate painkillers doctors may initially prescribe to patients, a requirement that clinicians check a prescription database before prescribing opioids to a patient, and the authority for medical professionals to commit a patient for substance abuse treatment if they pose a danger to themselves or others.

“The epidemic of opiate addiction and overdose can’t be solved by law enforcement alone,” Conley said. “It requires decisive action from health care providers, the treatment and recovery communities, educators, and others.”

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, there were more than 1,000 opioid-related fatalities statewide during calendar year 2014, exceeding the unprecedented record set the previous year.

“In the face of a problem this large and complex, any sound strategy must be a shared strategy,” Conley said. “The Governor’s bill represents a significant step forward in that regard.”

The Massachusetts District Attorneys Association MDAA is an independent state agency supporting the state’s 11 elected district attorneys and their combined staff of about 700 prosecutors and 250 victim-witness advocates, who handle approximately 300,000 cases annually. The MDAA also produces publications for prosecutors and victim-witness advocates, hosts dozens of prosecutor trainings annually, and provides information on budgetary, criminal justice, and public safety issues to the executive and legislative branches.

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