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Baker discusses bill that would force opioid addicts into rehab for 72 hours

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker is urging lawmakers to approve a bill aimed at curbing the opioid addiction epidemic that has already claimed thousands of lives in Massachusetts.

And now a controversial part of the legislation would force high-risk users into rehab against their will for up to 72 hours.

"It's a 72-hour opportunity for them to decide to go into treatment - if they don't take it, they can go," said Gov. Baker.

Baker filed the so-called Care Act late last year.

Specifically, the bill would give emergency room clinical staff the right to order high-risk opioid users into involuntary treatment programs for up to three days.

"Finding an opportunity to create a pathway to treatment, is in the end a safer and more effective way of helping them get better," Gov. Baker said. "Creating new pathways and opportunities for them to get better needs to be a fundamental part of how we think about addiction generally."

Baker is attempting to address the quickly growing epidemic in the Commonwealth.

The Governor also stressed the need to continue to work with the medical community to limit the amount and length of opiate prescriptions.

Another key point to the Care Act includes the importance of credentialed recovery coaches who can help those with substance abuse long term after they check out of recovery facilities.

Statistics from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health show nearly 2,200 people died of opioid-related overdoses in 2016, which is more than double the amount in 2013.

That being said, the American Civil Liberties Union reportedly objects to the bill and the legal issue of forcing someone into treatment will be discussed Tuesday.

The hearing is expected to begin at 1 p.m. at the State House, and Baker will speak around 2:30 p.m.