>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": IS THE MBTA SAFE?

GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER SAYS YES.

BUT DOZENS OF PEOPLE HURT, AND IN ONE CASE KILLED, IN A SERIES OF RECENT ACCIDENTS MIGHT SUGGEST OTHERWISE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE BILL STRAUSS AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LIVABLE STREETS ALLIANCE, STACY THOMPSON, HAVE THEIR SHARE OF CONCERNS AS WELL.

BOTH JOIN ME.

THEN, LATER, WITH OPIOID DEATHS UP BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, I'LL TALK TO TWO BETH ISRAEL DOCTORS ON LAST YEAR'S RECORD HIGH, 9,300 OVERDOSE DEATHS ACROSS THE NATION, AND WHAT THEY SAY PEOPLE STILL GET WRONG ABOUT ADDICTION, AND HOW TO GET IT RIGHT.

♪♪ >> Braude: AS VACCINES BECAME MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE AND MORE BUSINESSES HAVE CALLED ON EMPLOYEES TO RETURN IN PERSON, RIDERSHIP ON THE MBTA HAS BEEN TICKING BACK UP FOR MONTHS.

AND, SO IT SEEMS, HAVE MBTA ACCIDENTS.

BACK IN JULY, TWO GREEN LINE TRAINS CRASHED IN BRIGHTON, SENDING 27 PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL.

A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION DETERMINED ONE OF THE TRAINS' DRIVERS WAS SPEEDING, AND NOW HE FACES CHARGES.

THEN LAST MONTH B.U.

PROFESSOR DAVID JONES DIED AFTER FALLING FROM A RUSTED STAIRCASE NEAR THE J.F.K.

U-MASS STATION IN DORCHESTER.

THE SUNDAY BEFORE LAST, NINE PEOPLE WERE HURT WHEN AN ESCALATOR MALFUNCTIONS AT BACK BAY STATION.

AND THEN JUST A FEW DAYS LATER, A RED LINE TRAIN DERAILED AT BROADWAY STATION IN SOUTH BOSTON.

NO ONE WAS HURT IN THAT ONE.

BUT THESE ARE JUST THE LATEST IN A LONG SERIES OF TROUBLING EVENTS ON THE "T", INCLUDING SEVERAL OTHER DERAILMENTS AND EQUIPMENT FAILURES.

WHICH LED AN INDEPENDENT PANEL TO DECLARE IN A 2019 REPORT THAT THE AGENCY'S APPROACH TO SAFETY IS QUESTIONABLE, CITING POOR LEADERSHIP AND FINANCIAL PRESSURES AS SOME OF THE REASONS WHY.

BUT WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SPATE OF RECENT ISSUES, LAST WEEK GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER SAID THIS: >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE MBTA IS SAFE BUT IT IS OLD.

>> Braude: TO THAT END, BAKER EMPHASIZED THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS ALLOTTED TO THE MBTA UPGRADES AND REPAIRS SINCE HE'S TAKEN OFFICE, ARGUING HE'S DONE MORE THAN ANY OTHER GOVERNOR TO FIX THE "T"'S PROBLEMS.

JOINING ME TO DISCUSS ARE REPRESENTATIVE BILL STRAUS, CO-CHAIR OF THE STATE HOUSE'S JOINT COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, AND STACY THOMPSON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LIVABLE STREETS ALLIANCE, A NON-PROFIT FOR BIKING, WALKING, AND TRANSIT.

>> Braude: STACY AND MR. STRAUSS, GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH.

REPRESENTATIVE, CAN I START WITH YOU, THE MOST IMMEDIATE CONCERN FOR EVERY "T" RIDER IS, IS THE "T" SAFE?

IS BAKER RIGHT, OR IS IT UNSAFE?

>> I THINK IT CAN BE BETTER.

WHAT THE "T" DOES EVERY DAY IN PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IS QUITE A TASK.

BUT THE GOAL HAS TO BE -- AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE YET, THERE IS JUST THIS SUPER RELIABLE, SAFE SYSTEM.

ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN, BUT SOMETHING IS BEING MISSED, AND THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT, TO BE SURE.

>> Braude: BEFORE WE LEAVE THAT, THOUGH, THE SCHALESCALATOR DEBACLE, THE INVESTIGATOR SAID IT WAS INSPECTED AS RECENTLY AS JULY 31st, AND IF THEY ARE INSPECTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT PASS, WHAT MORE CAN THEY DO?

>> WELL, CLEARLY -- AND I DON'T DOUBT HIM THAT THIS WAS INSPECTED IN JULY, I READ THAT AS WELL, BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT THE SAFETY REGIMEN HAS TO BE MORE THAN IT IS.

>> Braude: IS IT SAFE, STACY?

ARE YOU CONVINCED?

>> YEAH, SO I RIDE THE "T" EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IT IS SAFER TO GET ON THE "T" THAN IT IS TO GET IN A CAR AND GO ON THE HIGHWAY, BY AND LARGE YOU REMAIN SAFE.

THAT DOES NOT EXCUSE PREVENTABLE ACCIDENTS ON THE SYSTEM.

AND I WOULD COMPLETELY AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE STRAUSS THAT WE CAN AND NEED DO DONEED TO DO MORE.

IN THE SAFETY REPORT THAT YOU MENTIONED, THE REPORT SUGGESTED THAT THE MBTA HIRE 125 NEW SAFETY POSITIONS.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A PERSON DOUBLE CHECKING THE SAFETY WORK ON THE ESCALATOR.

>> Braude: IN DEFENSE OF THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION, CHAIRMAN STRAUSS, I THINK THE NUMBER I READ IN 2015, SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $500 MILLION WAS BEING SPENT ANNUALLY ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND NOW THE NUMBER IS UP TO $2 BILLION.

THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE ON THE ADMINISTRATION'S BEHALF, IS IT NOT?

>> I DON'T SEE THAT $2 BILLION NUMBER.

I READ THAT AND I'VE BEEN LOOKING OVER THE DOCUMENTS.

BUT THERE IS NO QUESTION THEY'RE SPENDING MORE THAN THEY USED TO.

BUT WE'RE STILL AT A DAUNTING ISSUE THAT WITH MAINTENANCE ISSUES ALONE, NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE ROADS AND BRIDGES, BUT WITH MAINTENANCE ISSUES ALONE AT THE "T", WE HAVE A NEED OF ABOUT $10 BILLION, AND ANOTHER $25 BILLION FOR WHAT THEY CALL UNCONSTRAINED CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, WHICH MEANS TAKING CARE OF THE TRANSFORMATIVE THINGS WE NEED IN TERMS OF CLIMATE ISSUES AND SYSTEM EXPANSION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THEY'RE SPENDING MORE.

BUT EVERYONE WHO FOLLOWS THIS, I THINK ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE IS QUITE A BIT MORE TO GO.

AND THE FINANCING EXTREME HASN'T BEEN FINALIZED YET, EVEN THOUGH THE HOUSE DID TRY LAST SESSION, IT DID DIE OVER IN THE SENATE.

>> Braude: ONE OF THE THINGS BEYOND THE FINANCING, STACY, THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IS THIS OVERSIGHT BOARD OF THE "T." THE SEATS ARE VACANT.

I INCLUDE EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR, AND THEY WOULD SAY OBVIOUSLY FILLED IS THE GOAL.

HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE WOULD THAT ACTUALLY MAKE?

AND WHY AREN'T THEY FILLED?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION TO ASK GOVERNOR BAKER.

AS REPRESENTATIVE STRAUSS KNOWS, THE LEGISLATURE DID PASS A BILL TO GIVE THE GOVERNOR POWER TO APPOINT THESE POSITIONS.

THIS IS AFTER THE LEGISLATURE GAVE A YEAR EXTENSION.

SO THERE HAS BEEN MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO SORT OUT WHO SHOULD BE ON THIS BOARD.

AND IF THEY WERE HERE, THEY COULD BE ASKING THE HARD QUESTIONS.

THEY COULD BE THE ONES GOING BEHIND THE SCENES UNDERSTANDING WHAT WENT WRONG.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL SITTING HERE WAITING, WAITING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS NEXT?

>> Braude: WHY HAVEN'T THEY BE NAMED -- >> IF I COULD -- >> Braude: SURE.

>> WHAT STACY SAYS IS TRUE.

I DON'T LIKE TO AND CYNICAL, BUT ONE OF THE SURPRISING GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE PATROL BOARD IN 2016, WHEN IT CAME INTO EXISTENCE, TWO OR THREE TIMES A MONTH IT BECAME A VERY PUBLIC PLACE WHERE THE "T" COULD BE ASKED QUESTIONS.

THERE WERE PUBLIC FORUMS, AS WELL AS THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND THEY BEGAN TO CHALLENGE, IN A VERY AGGRESSIVE WAY, WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS DOING ON SAFETY ISSUES.

AND IF YOU WERE JUST A LITTLE BIT CYNICAL, YOU WOULD SAY THEY BECAME A THORN IN THE SIDE OF THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION.

SO I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER WHY WE'VE GONE SO MANY MONTHS WITHOUT A NEWLY CONSTITUTED BOARD.

ALL IT TAKES IS A SIGNATURE FROM THE GOVERNOR PUTTING SOME PEOPLE BACK ON THAT BOARD.

>> Braude: YOU THINK IT IS A TOTALLY INTENTIONAL ACT ON THE ADMINISTRATION.

RATHER THAN DANCING AROUND -- >> INTENT IS HARD TO KNOW, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THE FACTS SAY WE'VE BEEN SITTING THERE SINCE JULY WITHOUT THESE VACANCIES BEING FILLED, AND THEY'VE KNOWN FOR A YEAR THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE THESE VACANCIES TO FILL RIGHT AWAY.

>> REGARDLESS -- >> Braude: I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.

>> THIS IS LITERALLY THE JOB OF THE GOVERNOR.

WE SENT HIM A LIST OF FOLKS WHO ARE READY, WILLING, AND QUALIFIED TO DO THE JOB.

SO THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, RIGHT BACK TO THE REPRESENTATIVE SAYS, IS WHY, AND WHY NOT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE NEED THIS OVERSIGHT?

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF RIGHT NOW, REPRESENTATIVE, THIS IS LIKE GROUNDHOG DAY, AND I'M SURE IT HAS BEEN FOR YOU, TOO.

I USED TO LOBBY, AND I USE THE TERM LOOSELY, AT THE STATE HOUSE IN THE '80s -- >> I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE THERE.

>> Braude: AND YOU WERE A LITTLE BOY, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: IT IS ALMOST THE SAME CONVERSATION THAT HAS BEEN HAD NOT FOR YEARS, BUT FOR DECADES.

AND THE DEMOCRATS -- CHARLIE BAKER IS A REPUBLICAN, AND THE DEMOCRATS DON'T JUST CONTROL THE LEGISLATURE; THEY ARE THE LEGISLATURE.

IF BAKER IS SPENDING ENOUGH, BUT NOT ENOUGH, IS SAFETY IS AN ISSUE, BUT OLD AGE IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE, WHY DON'T YOU JUST DO IT RATHER THAN DEBATING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT NEEDS DOING?

AND IF CHARLIE BAKER VETOES WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU OVERRIDE HIS VETO.

YOU HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH VOTES.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

>> CERTAINLY WE'VE BEEN PUTTING LOTS OF RESOURCES OUT THERE.

AS RECENT AS JANUARY WE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE GOVERNOR AN ADDITIONAL $16 BILLION IN AUTHORIZATION IN ALMOST TRANSPORTATION.

I WAS HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME, BUT I ALWAYS FEEL WE COULD HAVE DONE MORE.

SO WHAT IS PARTICULARLY FRUSTRATING IN TALKING ABOUT THE "T" AND THE CONTROL BOARD IS WHEN WE DO ADOPT THESE AUTHIZATIONSAUTHORIZATIONS AND THINGS DON'T HAPPEN, WE LOOK OVER AT THE GOVERNOR AND SAY, YOU'RE OUR PARTNER IN THESE PROJECTS, IF YOU WILL, AND IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO STEP UP.

I DO THINK THE LEGISLATURE -- AND THIS IS SOMETHING THE HOUSE UNDERTOOK LAST SESSION -- WE NEED TO PROVIDE A VERY RELIABLE FINANCING SCHEME.

MASS TAXPAYERS PUT IN A BILLION AND A QUARTER A YEAR -- >> Braude: A BILLION AND A QUARTER ADDITIONAL, A BILLION AND A QUARTER MORE -- >> A BILLION AND A QUARTER ADDITIONAL.

LIKE WHEN YOU PAY YOUR MORTGAGE, YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY THE HOUSE ON THAT DAY, BUT YOU NEED A STREAM TO PURCHASE THOSE THINGS THAT $10 BILLION, $20 BILLION OF EXPENDITURES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED THAT TO HAVE THE FULLY OPERATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT THE PUBLIC DEMANDS.

AND YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY IT HERE, AND IT DOES FEEL LIKE GROUNDHOG DAY, BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP AT IT.

>> Braude: STACY, BEFORE I GET BACK TO YOU IN A SECOND.

CHAIRMAN STRAUSS, YOU WERE QUOTED IN THE PAPER SAYING THAT THE FINANCING IS AN ASSORTMENT OF BAD CHOICES.

I WOULD ARGUE IT IS AN ASSORTMENT OF GOOD CHOICES.

THERE IS AN ISSUE BEFORE THE VOTERS THAT WOULD RAISE -- THE SO-CALLED FAIR-SHARE AMENDMENT, THE MILLIONAIRES' TAX -- RAISE A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR EDUCATION AND TRANSPORTATION.

THERE IS A TON OF FEDERAL MONEY LYING AROUND, ADMITTEDLY ONE TIME, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE IT AGAIN, SO IT SEEMS TO ME IT IS AN ASSORTMENT OF PRETTY GOOD CHOICES, IS IT NOT?

>> THE -- IN ADDITION TO THE BALLOT QUESTION, AND THE BALLOT QUESTION I DON'T CONSIDER PURELY TRANSPORTATION FINANCING.

BECAUSE I THINK OF TRANSPORTATION FINANCING IN TERMS OF MONEY YOU CAN SECURE, BONDED BORROWING.

WE DO THAT THROUGH THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND.

SO WHILE I DID VOTE TO PUT THE BALLOT QUESTION ON THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR, IT IS NOT COMMITTED FUNDS THAT I COULD GUARANTEE YOU COULD PLAN THE KIND OF MULTI-YEAR PLAN I WOULD PREFER TO SEE.

SO WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE BAD CHOICES, WE HAVE A GAS TAX NOW, WHICH IS THE HEART OF TRANSPORTATION FINANCING IN MASSACHUSETTS, BUT THE GOAL IS THAT GASOLINE, FOSSIL FUEL SALES, WILL GO DOWN -- >> Braude: YOU WANT PEOPLE TO DRIVE LESS.

I UNDERSTAND.

>> AND SO THEN YOU LOOK AT DIFFERENT KINDS OF -- WHETHER IT IS TOLLS OR ROAD CHARGES, WHATEVER, AND THOSE ARE THE BAD CHOICES THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT.

>> Braude: STACY, WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO SAY?

>> I WANT TO AGREE BUT CORRECT AND SAY THEY'RE NOT BAD, BUT THEY'RE TOUGH.

THIS IS -- ANY BALANCED BUDGET -- THE REPRESENTATIVE KNOWS MOST DAYS I'M AT HIS DOOR ASKING FOR THINGS.

SO THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE WORKED TOGETHER AND AGREED ON SOMETHING.

THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE "T." WE HAVE CRUMBLING ROADS AND BRIDGES ACROSS THE STATE.

OUR REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITIES ARE SUFFERING.

AND THE FAIR SHARE AMENDMENT, WHICH WE ALSO SUPPORT, WILL NOT SOLVE ALL OF THAT.

WE WANT THE VOTERS TO SHOW UP IN 2022.

BUT IF YOU NEED TO MAKE REPAIRS ON YOUR HOUSE, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE LOTS OF SUSTAINED, BALANCED REVENUE STREAM.

WE WANT A MIX OF FAIR SHARE, MAYBE SOME MORE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE STREAMS, AND MAYBE SOME OF THE TOUGHER CHOICES SO WE HAVE A NICE, BALANCED PACKAGE THAT WE CAN DEPEND ON YEAR AFTER YEAR, INSTEAD OF CONSTANTLY HITTING A CRISIS.

THE SENATE HAS NOT DONE THAT YET.

>> Braude: WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT A HALF MINUTE LEFT, CHAIRMAN STRAUSS, TO USE STRAYSSTACY'S WORD, "CRUMBLING," THERE WAS A STAIRWELL THAT WAS CRUMBLING FOR 20 MONTHS AND NOTHING HAPPENED UNTIL DAVID JONES FELL THROUGH IT TO HIS DEATH.

I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTE, WHICH, TO ME, IS ENRAGING, BUT HOW CAN SOMETHING LIKE THAT GET UNFIXED, OR AT LEAST NOT SHUT DOWN OVER 20 MONTHS?

>> THAT IS A HORRIFIC TRAGEDY.

AND GOING BACK TO 2009, THAT STAIRWAY AND THAT ROAD WERE IDENTIFIED FOR TRANSFER FROM THE D.C.R.

TO MASS D.O.T.

I KNOW THE INVESTIGATION WILL TAKE PLACE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE ALL IMAGINE ANYONE WE KNOW COULD HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN THAT SITUATION.

AND I AM CERTAIN THEY WILL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

AND THIS JURISDICTIONAL ISSUE IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BY MANY PEOPLE OVER THE LAST DECADE, THROUGH TWO GOVERNORS.

I DON'T WANT TO PICK ON GOVERNOR BAKER, BUT BOTH GOVERNORS DURING THIS PERIOD HAD RESPONSIBILITIES HERE.

>> Braude: CHAIRMAN STRAUSS, STACY THOMPSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I HOPE YOUR WISHES BECOME REALITY.

>> Braude: NEXT UP, UNTIL THE PANDEMIC HIT, MASSACHUSETTS HAD BEEN MAKING REAL PROGRESS IN THE OPIOID CRISIS.

BUT AS NATIONWIDE SHUTDOWNS SET IN, OVERDOSE DEATHS BEGAN TO RISE, PARTICULARLY AMONG PEOPLE OF COLOR.

OVERALL, DEATHS SPIKED BY 4% FROM 2019 TO 2020 IN THE STATE, 14% AMONG HISPANIC RESIDENTS AND 64% AMONG BLACK PEOPLE.

AND NATIONALLY OPIOID DEATHS ROSE 30% OVERALL, KILLING 9,300 PEOPLE IN 2020.

IT'S AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

AS MY NEXT GUEST HIGHLIGHTS IN A RECENT "BOSTON GLOBE" OP-ED, WRITING: "UNDERSTANDABLY, COVID-19 HAS DOMINATED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HEALTH FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, BUT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC HASN'T GONE AWAY.

PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DIE FROM OVERDOSES.

IT IS CRITICAL FOR SOCIETY TO RECOGNIZE THE CRISIS, UNDERSTAND HOW SECRETS AND STIGMA ALLOW IT TO GROW, AND MARSHAL RESOURCES TO CONTINUE TO BATTLE DRUG ADDICTIONS."

>> Braude: JOINING ME TO HELP US IN THAT UNDERSTANDING ARE THE CO-AUTHORS OF THAT PIECE: DR. KEVIN HILL, THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF ADDICTION PSYCHIATRY AT BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, AND DR. IAN HALIM, A PSYCHIATRY RESIDENT AT BETH ISRAEL.

>> Braude: DOCTORS, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> Braude: DR. HILL, ARE THESE INCREDIBLE INCREASES IN NUMBERS MORE MODEST ON THE STATE LEVEL, HUGE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL -- IS THAT MORE COLLATERAL DAMAGE FROM COVID-19 OR IS SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON?

>> Doctor: ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THE COVID ISSUE IS AT THE CORE.

AS WE LIKE TO SAY, IT IS NOT COVID OR ADDICTION, IT IS COVID AND ADDICTION.

SO REALLY THE USE, THE PREVALENCE AND DEATHS RELATED TO ALL SUBSTANCES ON THE RISE, BUT THE OPIOID PROBLEM IS REALLY FRONT AND CENTER BECAUSE THOSE PATIENTS ARE DYING EVERY DAY.

YOU MENTIONED 93,000 DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS IN 2020, AND 60% ARE ATTRIBUTED TO FENTANYL, AND IN MASSACHUSETTS ALONE, OVER 2,000 OPIOID DEATHS.

THAT IS LIKE WIPING OUT THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL.

>> Braude: DR. HALIM, THE NUMBER AMONG BLACK MEN ARE BEYOND HORRIBLE.

WHY?

>> Doctor: SO THE NUMBERS WERE ALREADY SLIGHTLY RISING PRIOR TO COVID, AND AS WE ALL KNOW, COVID HAS CREATED A HUGE AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL STRESS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WE HAVE SEEN, FOR EXAMPLE, PATIENTS WITH OTHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS SUCH AS ALCOHOL HAS ALSO RISEN, SO THIS IS PART OF A LARGER PATTERN.

>> Braude: I MEANT AMONG BLACK MEN IN PARTICULAR.

THAT'S WHERE THE NUMBER ARE JUST ASTRONOMICAL, WHY?

>> Doctor: THAT'S A GOOD QESTION.

I'M LET DR. HILL DISCUSS IT.

>> Doctor: RESEARCH HAS SHOWN WHEN PEOPLE OF COLOR GO INTO THE E.R., THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO GET THE TREATMENT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GET.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS.

I LIKE TO SAY WE TREAT PATIENTS FROM DEACON HILL TO MISSION HILL, BUT WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

IT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE LARGER ISSUE OF PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING WHAT TREATMENT FOR OPIOID DISORDER IS, AND THEN MAKING IT AVAILABLE.

>> Braude: DR. HALIM, IN YOUR OP-ED THAT YOU BOTH WROTE, YOU USED THE TERMS STIGMA AND SECRECY.

I HAVE TO SAY I'M SURPRISED THAT THE STIGMA ISSUE IS STILL AS STRONG AS IT IS.

AS AN OBSERVER, I WAS HOPEFUL THAT IT WAS DISSIPATING.

APPARENTLY IT IS NOT?

>> Doctor: YEAH.

SO AT THE ADDICTION SERVICES AT BETH ISRAEL, WE DO FIND THAT SOME OPIOID USERS ARE RESISTANT TO THE IDEA OF MEDICATION AS TREATMENT, FOR EXAMPLE.

THIS IS ONE WAY THAT THE STIGMA IS VERY VISIBLE TO US.

THAT WOULD BE MEDICATIONS LIKE METHADONE AND NUPERNOPHINE, WHICH CAN BE USED TO REDUCE SOMEONE'S RISK OF DEATH.

>> Braude: AND WHAT IS THAT, DR. HALIM?

I THINK YOU WRITE BECAUSE THE NOTION IS THAT THE ONLY PATH TO BEING SOBER IS A DRUG-FREE PATH?

IS THAT SORT OF THE MYTH, FOR LACK OF A BETTER EXPRESSION, THEY'RE BUYING INTO?

>> Doctor: THAT'S CORRECT.

>> Braude: DR. HILL, THERE IS THE BASIC GROUND-FLOOR STIGMA AROUND MENTAL ILLNESS.

I'M SORT OF SURPRISE TO READ YOU GUYS WRITE THIS.

I HAVE READ STORY AFTER STORY THAT ARE DISHEARTENING, WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DIED OF OPIOID ADDICTION WHERE THEIR PARENTS HAVE CONSCIOUSLY SAID, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DIE AWAY FROM THIS.

WE WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WHY THIS KID WE LOVED, THIS YOUNG MAN OR YOUNG WOMAN, IS NO LONGER HERE.

HOW DEEP IS THIS STIGMA AROUND ADMITTING YOU HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE?

>> THE OBITUARIES ARE THE EXCEPTION AND NOT THE RULE.

IT IS SO MUCH EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT ANY OTHER MEDICAL ISSUE BESIDES DRUG ADDICTION.

I HAVE LOOKED FOR OUR PATIENTS, AND SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE DIE SUDDENLY.

AND WHEN YOU READ MORE, THE KIND OF DETAIL THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ISN'T SHARED ENOUGH.

AND THAT'S REALLY THE POINT OF THE EDITORIAL.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS.

AS YOU SEE, WHEN YOU'RE ON INSTAGRAM, IT IS SO MUCH EASIER TO PORTRAY A GREAT LIFESTYLE FULL OF VICTORIES, AND THAT'S NOT THE REAL STORY LOTS OF TIMES.

>> Braude: DR. HALIM, IS THE CURE BEING MORE OPEN AND JUST TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY AS SIMPLE AS THAT, BUT IS IT AS DIRECT AS THAT?

>> I THINK THAT IS A GREAT START.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH.

WE HAVE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WE'RE HERE.

WE HAVE TREATMENT PROGRAMS LIKE OURS, AND OTHER GREAT ONCE AROUND THE CITY, WHERE WE'RE BATTLING SIDE BY SIDE WITH PATIENTS AGAINST -- INCLUDING OPIOID DISORDER, BUT FOR US TO REALLY WIN THE WAR, WE NEED MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED?

>> Braude: HOW DO WE GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED, DR. HALIM?

HOW DO YOU WIN THAT WAR?

>> Doctor: SURE.

I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE PURPOSE OF THE PIECE, TO GET PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT THE ISSUE, TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE, THAN WHAT HAS BEEN THE CASE RECENTLY.

THERE WAS A GREAT "NEW YORK TIMES" PIECE ABOUT THE PRELIMINARY DATA FROM THE C.D.C., WITH THE INCREASED OVERDOSE DEATHS, AND THEN THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DISCUSSION FOLLOWING THAT PIECE.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU GO, DR. HILL, AND I MAY BE BRINGING THIS IN FROM LEFT FIELD, SO FEEL FREE TO SWAT IT AWAY, WE ARE IN THIS GROTESQUE ANTI-SCIENCE ERA WHERE A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF THE POPULATION CONSCIOUSLY SAYS I DON'T BELIEVE IN THIS.

AND MEDICINE IS PART OF SCIENCE, ADDICTION TREATMENT IS PART OF SCIENCE.

IS THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM, OR IS IT NOT?

>> Doctor: IT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

I REALLY BELIEVE, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, ONE OF THE LINES WE WROTE WAS THE ONLY TRUE RECOVERY IN THE EYES OF MANY IS A RECOVERY THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY DRUG AT ALL, INCLUDING DRUGS THAT ARE PRESCRIBED.

WE KNOW THAT THESE MEDICATIONS ARE LIFE-SAVING.

I THINK IT BEGINS WITH PEOPLE LIKE US GETTING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, EDUCATING PEOPLE SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND WHAT TREATMENT LOOKS LIKE, AND MAKING IT MORE COMFORTABLE FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAVE.

I THINK THAT WE'RE DOING THAT, BUT WE'RE NOT DOING IT AT THE MAGNITUDE THAT WE NEED TO, AND THAT'S WHY THE TRENDS ARE MOVING THE WAY THEY ARE.

>> Braude: YOU ARE BOTH WELCOME ANY TIME TO BROADCAST THE MESSAGE.

DR. HILL, DR. HALIM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US, JIM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

PLEASE COME BACK TOMORROW FOR HARVARD LAW PROFESSOR RANDALL KENNEDY, IT IS CALLED "SAY IT LOUD: ON RACE, LAW, HISTORY AND CULTURE."

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

>> THAT WAY, THAT WAY, THAT WAY.

[YELLING] OH!

THAT WAS AWESOME!

HEY, FOLKS, EDGAR B.HERWICK III HERE FROM GBH'S "CURIOSITY DESK," WHERE YOU ASK QUESTIONS AND I FIND ANSWERS.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AT PAUL REVERE LANDING PARK, A VERY POPULAR PLACE FOR DOGS IN CHARLESTOWN, WHICH SEEMS AS GOOD A PLACE AS ANY FOR US TO BEGIN OUR QUEST TO ANSWER TODAY'S QUESTION: WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER?

>> IS THIS LIKE A -- LIKE AN OLD PEOPLE SAYING?

>> IT IS AN OLD PEOPLE SAYING, YEAH.

>> PEOPLE WHO MAKE, LIKE, "SOPRANO" REFERENCES THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND?

>> PEOPLE FROM, LIKE, THE 1900s.

>> I HAVE NO CLUE.

BAD WEATHER?

I DON'T KNOW.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A BAD TERM OR A GOOD TERM.

I WOULD ASSUME IT'S A GOOD TERM.

DOG DAYS?

HAPPY DAYS OF SUMMER?

I'M LITERALLY PICTURING, LIKE, AN OLDER GRANDPA SITTING ON HIS PORCH, LIKE IT'S THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW.

>> ALL GROWING UP, IT WAS LIKE THE LATTER PART OF THE SUMMER.

>> DOG DAYS OF SUMMER.

IT SUCKS.

>> YEAH.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK WE CALL THEM THE DOG DAYS?

>> YOU'VE BEEN HOT AS >> YOU'VE BEEN HOT AS HECK ALL SUMMER.

YOU'VE BEEN WORKING YOUR BUTT OFF -- >> YEAH.

>> -- AND THEN COMES THE END OF SUMMER, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE COOLING OFF.

NOW IT'S HOT AS HECK AGAIN.

"DOG" MEANS WORK TO DEATH.

>> WORK TO DEATH, YEAH, YOU GOT TO WORK THE DOG, THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING, TOO.

>> LIKE A WORKING DOG, YEAH.

>> ACTUALLY, THE TERM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR FURRY, FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS.

AND IT IS NOT BECAUSE IT'S PEAK HOTDOG SEASON.

THOUGH IT IS.

IN FACT, THE ANSWER TO OUR QUESTION IS NOT TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE HERE ON EARTH BUT RATHER UP IN THE STARS.

>> THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER, AS WE KNOW THEM, ARE THE HOTTEST DAYS OF THE YEAR, BUT REALLY WHAT THEY ARE IS THE DAYS WHEN SIRIUS, THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE SKY, IS VISIBLE.

>> THAT NAME, SIRIUS, COMES FROM THE GREEK AND TRANSLATES TO SOMETHING LIKE "THE SCORCHER."

BUT IT'S JUST AS WELL KNOWN BY ITS LONG-TIME NICKNAME, "THE DOG STAR."

>> WE CALL IT "THE DOG STAR" BECAUSE IT'S THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN CANIS MAJOR, WHICH MEANS "GREAT DOG" IN LATIN.

AND THE CONSTELLATION, THE ANCIENTS DREW A PICTURE OF A DOG BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY, IN THE SKY, FOLLOWS ORION, WHICH IS THE HUNTER.

SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE ORION'S DOG.

>> SIRIUS IS, INDEED, THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE SKY, AT LEAST WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY VISIBLE.

FROM EARLY SPRING TO LATE SUMMER, THE SUN COMES BETWEEN US AND THE DOG STAR, LITERALLY, AND HIDES IT FROM OUR VIEW, BUT LIKE CLOCKWORK, SIRIUS REAPPEARS EACH AUGUST, A MOMENT CALLED ITS HELIACAL RISING.

>> AND WHEN IT DOES THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE BARELY VISIBLE ON THE EDGE OF THE HORIZON, AND EVERY NIGHT IT WILL GET A LITTLE HIGHER AND A LITTLE HIGHER, AND THEN IT WILL START GOING DOWN AGAIN AND EVENTUALLY DISAPPEAR.

>> THE DOG STAR'S ANNUAL ARRIVAL IN THE SUMMER WAS A BIG DEAL FOR ANCIENT STARGAZERS OF NUMEROUS CULTURES.

THE EGYPTIANS CONNECTED IT WITH THE ANNUAL FLOODING OF THE NILE, AND THE GREEKS THOUGHT THE COMBINATION OF THE SUN PLUS SIRIUS, THE SCORCHER, WAS A LEAST IN PART WHY THE SUMMER MONTHS WERE SO HOT AND MISERABLE.

THE ANCIENT ROMANS ALSO DREW A LINK BETWEEN SIRIUS AND THE SWELTERING SUMMER WEATHER DURING THE DIES CANICULARES, AS THEY CALLED IT.

FROM THERE THE CONCEPT SPREAD TO ENGLAND, WHERE EVERYTHING FROM PRAYERS TO ABSTINENCE TO A LITTLE EXTRA BLOODLETTING WAS ADVOCATED TO COUNTERACT THE SUPPOSED ILLS BROUGHT ON BY THE ANNUAL DOG DAYS.

OF COURSE TODAY WE KNOW THE DOG STAR DOES NOT PORTEND DISEASE AND HAS NO IMPACT WHATSOEVER ON THE WEATHER.

OUR SUMMER HEAT IS THANKS LARGELY TO THE FACT THAT THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE IS TILTED TOWARD THE SUN DURING THOSE MONTHS.

STILL, THE CONCEPT OF DOG DAYS REMAINS.

TODAY WE OFFICIALLY CELEBRATE THEM FROM JULY CELEBRATE THEM FROM JULY 3 TO AUGUST 11.

THAT IS THE 40 DAYS LEADING UP TO SIRIUS' INITIAL APPEARANCE FROM THE SUMMER SKY.

OH, AND SPEAKING OF THAT TILT IN THE EARTH'S AXIS, THERE IS A SMALL IMPERFECTION IN IT THAT IS RELEVANT TO OUR STORY.

IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING CALLED PRECESSION.

>> PRECESSION IS SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER PLAYED WITH A TOP.

SO IF YOU SPIN A TOP, IT SPINS REALLY FAST BUT THE HANDLE OF THE TOP WILL MAKE A GRADUAL LITTLE CIRCLE.

THAT WILL START GETTING WIDER AND WIDER UNTIL IT FALLS OVER.

SO THE EARTH KIND OF DOES THE SAME THING, BUT IT DOESN'T FALL OVER.

THE AXIS OF THE EARTH, OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, WILL MAKE A LITTLE CIRCLE, SO IT WILL POINT TO DIFFERENT STARS, MEANING THE CONSTELLATION WILL LOOK DIFFERENT OVER DIFFERENT TYPES OF THE PRECESSION.

>> NOW WE ARE TALKING 12,000 YEARS HERE.

SO IF WE HUMANS CAN SOMEHOW SURVIVE LONG ENOUGH, THE DOG DAYS WILL FALL SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER.

DON'T FORGET TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE.

AND, PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT BECAUSE, HEY, I MIGHT JUST LOOK INTO THAT FOR YOU.

I'M EDGAR B. HERWICK.

STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE.

>> WHEN