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Recovery in the News
Dukakis argues for change in dealing with substance abuse
John Fenuccio
MetroWest Daily News
June 14, 2008
Former Gov. Michael Dukakis and his wife, Kitty, were in Westborough yesterday advocating for evidence-based treatment rather than incarceration for those addicted to drugs and alcohol.
The Dukakises were the guest speakers at the Massachusetts Alcohol and Other Drug Advocacy Leadership Training Institutes session, held at the Westborough Mothers Against Drunk Driving office.
Both spoke about addiction and what they feel needs to be done in the state and federal governments. Kitty Dukakis spoke of her own struggles with addiction and how passionate she is about treatment.
"I know this program works and my treatment has made a world of difference for me," she said. "I see it every day but we need to have more done at the state level."
Michael Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee, helped co-fund the Join Together program, an advocacy-based initiative that has created a blueprint aimed at helping state governments develop effective alcohol and drug policies through treatment instead of jail.
"About 90 percent of people incarcerated in the state are in there for drug- and alcohol-related offenses," he said.
Under Join Together's blueprint, the panel feels strongest about making governors, state legislative leaders and chief judges personally accountable for developing and implementing statewide strategies to prevent and address alcohol and drug problems.
As governor, Dukakis introduced many programs that aimed to educate children and teenagers about the problem at an early age. In 1984, Dukakis established the Governor's Alliance Against Drugs and Alcohol program, which has been credited with a significant drop in drug usage among young adults.
"We have to teach advocacy and prevention when our kids are in middle school because that's when they're starting to drink and do drugs," Michael Dukakis said.
Though the alliance was disbanded in 2003, Dukakis and his wife have been touring the country speaking on behalf of the program to ultimately change the culture of substance abuse treatment.
"We've been thrilled to have former Gov. Michael Dukakis chair this program as well as Kitty, who's attended meetings from here to Santa Fe," said Join Together Program and Policy Director Roberta Leis yesterday.
Dukakis called the issue a bipartisan one that needs to be addressed at all levels, especially in light of overcrowded jails throughout the country. He added that for many, incarceration doesn't help to treat addiction.
"Under former President Bill Clinton I saw little done and I've seen even less out of President George Bush," Dukakis said. "I haven't even heard either of the two presidential candidates mention the issue even once."
Mr. and Mrs. Dukakis met with Gov. Deval Patrick two weeks ago about the program and Dukakis said he walked away from the meeting feeling confident that Patrick received his recommendations well.
© 2008 GateHouse Media, Inc.