Gov. Deval Patrick: Regional Drug Strategy Being Developed

The Enterprise of Brockton www.enterprisenews.com Story published: May 24, 2007 Gov. Deval Patrick says regional strategy being developed to fight drug addiction By Maureen Boyle, Enterprise staff writer Tears running down her face, the 17-year-old Whitman-Hanson High School senior addicted to heroin was led in handcuffs out of a Brockton courtroom to spend up to 30 days in a drug treatment program. The girl was ordered into treatment Tuesday by Brockton District Court Judge Paul McCallum after her father asked the court to commit her as a danger to herself or others. With more teens and young adults getting hooked on cheap heroin, families such as the 17-year-old girl’s are struggling with ways to get them help while police try to stop the flow of drugs on the streets. Now, New England governors are expected to address the issue when they meet in Boston next month. “I wouldn’t say we have a solution, but we are developing a strategy,” Gov. Deval Patrick said during an editorial board meeting at The Enterprise this week. Patrick said the governors will discuss what law enforcement steps can be taken and how the states can coordinate efforts. “Because of the trafficking issues, we are getting together … to talk about how we can, together, with our public safety officials, share more information and take a more regional approach to the criminal enforcement aspect,” Patrick said. Heroin addiction has already taken a deadly hold on the region, the four-day report, Wasted …
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