Why Mass. has one of the largest systems of involuntarily committing people for substance use disorder treatment

A law that’s meant to be a last resort is often turned to amid the opioid overdose crisis.

Massachusetts has one of the largest systems of involuntarily committing people for substance use-disorder treatment. That’s according to Leo Beletsky, a professor of law and health science at Northeastern University who served on the state’s Section 35 Commission.