Contact: Susan Leahy, Communication Manager
MGH Center for Community Health Improvement
(617) 643-5288
Celebration for two men who are the first to complete the
Charlestown Addiction Recovery and Treatment Court
BOSTON, MA- APRIL 17, 2014 – Two Boston men are the first individuals to complete
CHART, the Charlestown Addiction Recovery Treatment, the alternative drug recovery and
treatment program. The program launched last year through a partnership between the
Charlestown Division of the Boston Municipal Court (BMC), its Probation Department, and the
Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition. The celebration was held at the Boston Municipal Court
House in Charlestown.
CHART is a specialized court session which helps individuals on probation who suffer with
chronic substance use. Gilbert Peterson, 33, and Jouseph Martinez, 24, voluntarily participated in
court-stipulated drug treatment as an alternative to prison. A U.S. Department of Justice drug
court study found that, when appropriately implemented, drug courts can reduce recidivism,
decrease the chances of future drug use, and promote positive cost-saving outcomes.1
Peterson said the first substance he used was marijuana, and later on he became addicted to
heroin.”I decided to enroll in drug court because I wanted a better life, a sober life. I know I was
an addict, and I needed help with my addiction. I have tried to quit so many times. I just wasn’t
ready to stop at the time.”
His treatment and recovery process included going to meetings with groups and with addiction
counselors and working as a cook. Getting sober this time was different. “This time I was ready.
I’m 33 years old. I have a family. Charlestown Drug Court was the program to help me.”
Peterson said the completion of his drug court sentence made him feel ecstatic. “I’ve been sober
for two years. I’m thrilled every day. I have had total support from my family.”
Martinez started using marijuana when he was 12 years old. He later used cocaine, pills and
heroin. “I realized that I had a problem when I started stealing from everybody. I looked at
myself in the mirror, and said to myself, ‘That’s not me’.”
He said that his drug court sentence worked for him because he kept busy with a routine of
meetings and appointments. At Project Place, Martinez took English lessons to improve his
speaking and writing skills. He received help writing a resume, looking and interviewing for jobs
and finally getting hired at the Atlantic Fish restaurant. “I have goals now. I have earned a
Customer Service certificate and my GED. I want to go to Bunker Hill Community College in
their nursing program. I want to find permanent housing.”
-11
See www.nij.gov/nij/topics/courts/drug-courts/madce.htm for more information on NIJ’s Multisite Adult Drug Court Evaluation.
101 Merrimac Street, Suite 603 Boston, Massachusetts 02114 www.massgeneral.org/cchi
Martinez has advice for individuals considering drug court. “You’ve got to be mentally and
physically ready. The commitment is seriously more than treatment. If you’re not ready, don’t
take it. If you are ready, take it and don’t look back.”
Referrals to CHART come from the individual, his or her attorney, the district attorney or the
probation department. Individuals convicted of arson, sex offenses or violent crimes within the
past five years are not eligible. An impartial third party is responsible for screening and
evaluating whether a candidate is appropriate. The program extends for a minimum of 18 months,
is highly structured and requires a serious commitment from the offender. Drug court is not a
diversion program, and suitability is more a question of choice and desire by the offender than a
generic profile.
CHART has a team approach model to direct and coordinate treatment plans. Armed with these
treatment plans, a community outreach coordinator makes the connection to appropriate
resources. The community outreach coordinator for CHART is Shannon Lundin, a Charlestown
resident and staff member of CSAC, a community coalition supported by the MGH Center for
Community Health Improvement.
Addiction is a chronic, treatable disease, much like diabetes. Effective treatment requires a
comprehensive and longitudinal approach. In the many recent articles about the epidemic of
substance use, particularly opioids, many clinicians and elected officials have stated that cities
and towns cannot arrest or incarcerate a way out of this problem. Drug court offers a highly
structured treatment alternative to incarceration for people like Peterson and Martinez. With the
treatment and support offered through drug court, these individuals can begin a path towards
recovery and health, setting a true example of rehabilitation.
About Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition (CSAC)
CSAC is a community-based coalition of residents, businesses, organizations, professionals, and advocates
who work together to reduce substance use in Charlestown. Through a unified, collaborative approach, the
coalition utilizes existing community resources, organize programs to identify needs, and harness the
energy and commitment of all to provide a safe, healthy environment in Charlestown.
About the Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI)
CCHI carries out its work in Chelsea, Revere, and Charlestown, where MGH has maintained healthcare
centers for more than 40 years, as well as in Boston among youth, homeless persons and seniors. CCHI has
partnered with the communities it serves to assess needs and create 50 programs that:

Reduce and prevent substance use

Intervene in the cycle of violence

Tackle the obesity epidemic by increasing access to healthy food and physical activity

Increase access to care for vulnerable populations such as immigrants and refugees, seniors, and
homeless people

Prevent cancers through early detection and screening

Generate interest in science and health careers among youth
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101 Merrimac Street, Suite 603 Boston, Massachusetts 02114 www.massgeneral.org/cchi