There are no ivory towers here in Somerville. And that is especially true when it comes to substance abuse.

Sadly, that plague has likely been experienced by every member of our community, directly or indirectly. It is too widespread a problem in this world for anyone in our city’s neighborhoods not to have a brother, sister, spouse, parent, child or friend caught up in it.

And because we have had that experience as a community we must be sympathetic and supportive of people in recovery trying to get help.

But that doesn’t mean we have to tolerate the scam that is going on at 31 Wilton St. for even a second. In that two family house, there are 11 men squeezed into six bedrooms paying $135 a week and getting no treatment or services for their money – just shelter.

The owner’s attorney calls it a sober house (sounds more like an illegal rooming house to us) and maintains the city can not regulate it because the people living there are recovering addicts and qualify as disabled under the Fair Housing Act.

Problem is the owners of the house — Michael Cartolano and Russell Colombo — are not doing anything for the residents except taking their money. There are no professionals on sight and the only advice on staying sober is: ‚ÄúGo to a meeting.‚Äù

The owners and their attorney have found and exploited a legal loophole and now they are making huge profits on the backs of a vulnerable population — recovering substance abusers.

To make matters worse, neighbors are complaining by the dozen of drug sales, public drunkenness and hypodermic needles originating from the house.

One estimate has close to 30 reputable sober houses in the city. The city has made it clear, it welcomes centers where addicts can receive help and support. The business at 31 Wilton St. is not one of those centers. It is a moneymaking scheme and nothing more.