State Representative John Moran has filed legislation that would establish a commission to study the continuum of care services for persons with substance abuse order, ultimately assess what’s needed to get people off and staying off drugs.

The commission, if formed, would be comprised of state and Boston city officials as well as several non-profit stakeholders.

Their recommendations would be delivered no later than 12 months following the formation of a commission, whereafter the commission will monitor the implementation of those recommendations.

Moran says that the idea is for the commission to formulate short-, mediumand long-term solutions to address the lack of resources for those experiencing substance abuse disorder ahead of the reopening of Long Island.

Much time and resources have gone into the day-to-day fight against substance abuse disorder in the city, but as things changed following the encampment removal at Atkinson Street in 2023, Moran says a more planned approach is required.

“I want to study the regional availability of detoxification services, stabilization services, transition support,” he said. “Kind of like, identify those barriers. So, this study will be made up of state, city and non-profit members and within twelve months we want to really kind of figure out short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions to bring us to the next level.”

The commission would likely investigate the feasibility and need a recovery campus not unlike the Recover Boston project proposed by the Newmarket BID and South End Forum last year that could deliver the population continuum care services to help people at every step of the journey towards recovery.

“People are falling outside of that,” Moran said. “They’re detoxing and then going back on the street because they don’t know the next thing to do, or they don’t know what services are available.” But the commission wouldn’t singularly look at Boston, Moran said. It would look at access to care from a regional perspective. The scope of the study will include all of Massachusetts to assess whether regional recovery centers are needed elsewhere, what they would look like and where they would be needed.

Steve Fox, chair of the South End Forum, who has been outspoken about the issues surrounding Mass. and Cass and a longtime advocate for state, city and private collaboration said that a commission such as this is exactly what’s needed to begin address those issues.

“Basically, the who’s who of people who are capable of understanding the length and breadth of the issue that we’re facing,” Fox said.

He concurred with Moran in that it’s one thing to have a focus on the day-to-day environment, like outreach and policing focused on specific areas throughout the city. But a whole collaborative and urgent approach is required to begin addressing the issue holistically.

“The idea here is that this commission is designed to say we need to have a robust group of stakeholders who can come to the table and actually craft a working plan that we can put together in a limited framework. What I have said to John and everybody who is willing to listen within earshot, I don’t want another group hug.”