| Everyone who cares knows that abuse of alcohol | | | | and unproductive people toward self-esteem, |
| and other drugs is a social evil of immense | | | | productivity and no further involvement with the |
| proportions. Its victims include the abusers | | | | courts. That is the mission of the Supreme Judicial |
| themselves, their families and countless others. | | | | Court's Substance Abuse Project - to develop a |
| Substance abuse is a major factor in most criminal | | | | coordinated, system-wide approach to the problems |
| cases that reach our courts. It is a significant factor, | | | | of substance abuse and to establish a working link |
| too in a high percentage of juvenile proceedings, | | | | between the courts and available community |
| divorce and child-custody disputes. | | | | services. |
| Problems caused by substance abuse threaten to | | | | No program can expect to be 100 percent |
| overwhelm not only the courts but also society itself. | | | | successful, but it is clear from the experience of |
| As difficult as it is to find the resources for an all-out | | | | courts in certain states that, if given the opportunity, |
| effort to turn the tide, we must do it. We cannot | | | | judges and other court personnel working with |
| afford not to. | | | | professionals in the community can reduce the impact |
| The role of the courts in ending substance abuse is | | | | of substance and drug abuse on afflicted individuals |
| particularly effective when judges, probation officers | | | | and their victims, and on the courts as well. |
| and counsel are well-informed about drug abuse and | | | | Of course, the traditional and first role of the courts |
| it's implications: about how to discover when abuse | | | | is to arbitrate and resolve disputes. The attention of |
| has been a factor in the events leading up to a | | | | the courts to law enforcement and to public safety is |
| particular court case and about the social services, | | | | critical, and must not be compromised. |
| treatment providers and other resources available in | | | | State tax dollars can be saved by a program that |
| the community, that can be offered as an alternative | | | | would reduce repetitive anti-social behavior, repetitive |
| to traditional forms of punishment or denial of | | | | court proceedings and repetitive incarceration. The |
| privileges. | | | | courts' use of their unique power to persuade |
| Those that work with individuals afflicted with | | | | individuals appearing before them to choose the |
| substance addiction can and will have positive results | | | | positive benefits of substance abuse treatment and |
| for the individuals directly involved and for society. | | | | intensive monitoring over mere punishment would be |
| I am confident that such cooperative efforts have | | | | financially, as well as humanely correct. |
| the potential to redirect the lives of such troubled | | | | |