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Aug. 28, 2026 – Luisa D’Amato’s recent column makes an emotional case for mandatory drug rehabilitation, but emotion cannot replace evidence. The people quoted in support of forced rehab all overcame addiction through voluntary treatment. None of them were ever compelled into rehab, yet their stories are being used to justify coercive programs that research shows do not work. The best available evidence is clear: mandatory rehab consistently underperforms voluntary treatment. A global review of 42 studies found negative outcomes in most involuntary programs and no sustained reduction in drug use. In Massachusetts, people forced into treatment faced double the risk of fatal overdose compared to voluntary patients.
