Forced Rehab Is Gov’s Tough Love

Gov. Charlie Baker is defending his controversial plan to involuntarily commit drug addicts, telling lawmakers the proposal is tough medicine needed to save the lives of users who walk out of emergency rooms to hunt for another hit.The bill, heard on Beacon Hill before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery yesterday, would let cops and medical professionals hold addicts who are deemed a threat to themselves for 72 hours before obtaining a court order.