New Center in San Francisco Aims to Arrest, Sober, and Release Drug Users - With a Condition: Get Out
San Francisco is gearing up to crack down on its notorious street drug scene by introducing the first "Rapid Enforcement, Support, Evaluation, and Triage Center" or RESET center. This sobering facility, located in the heart of the city, will serve as a turning point for those caught using illicit substances in public.
The city's new policy puts users on notice: get sober, get arrested, or pack your bags. Supervisor Matt Dorsey explained that this approach aims to send a clear message: San Francisco is no longer willing to tolerate public drug use. "Make it clear to anybody who would come to San Francisco to use drugs in public that you now have three options: get sober, get arrested, or get out," he said.
The city's new plan involves collaborating with the Sheriff's Department and Public Health personnel to run the RESET center. If law enforcement encounters an intoxicated individual on the streets, they will be taken into custody and brought to this facility for detoxification before being released into clinical care.
While some argue that forcing individuals into treatment is not an effective solution, others believe it's a step in the right direction. Steve Adami, Executive Director of "Way Out," a Salvation Army homeless initiative focused on recovery from addiction, sees the need up close. He emphasized that the critical factor for success lies in quickly connecting users with services after they've detoxified and then providing them with treatment.
Capacity is still a concern for the RESET center, as it currently plans to accommodate 24 individuals at a time. Advocates have expressed doubts about this number, but it's seen as a good starting point.
The Reset Center aims to open on April 1, marking a new era in San Francisco's efforts to tackle its devastating opioid crisis. The city is working hard to ensure that those struggling with addiction receive the help they need.
San Francisco is gearing up to crack down on its notorious street drug scene by introducing the first "Rapid Enforcement, Support, Evaluation, and Triage Center" or RESET center. This sobering facility, located in the heart of the city, will serve as a turning point for those caught using illicit substances in public.
The city's new policy puts users on notice: get sober, get arrested, or pack your bags. Supervisor Matt Dorsey explained that this approach aims to send a clear message: San Francisco is no longer willing to tolerate public drug use. "Make it clear to anybody who would come to San Francisco to use drugs in public that you now have three options: get sober, get arrested, or get out," he said.
The city's new plan involves collaborating with the Sheriff's Department and Public Health personnel to run the RESET center. If law enforcement encounters an intoxicated individual on the streets, they will be taken into custody and brought to this facility for detoxification before being released into clinical care.
While some argue that forcing individuals into treatment is not an effective solution, others believe it's a step in the right direction. Steve Adami, Executive Director of "Way Out," a Salvation Army homeless initiative focused on recovery from addiction, sees the need up close. He emphasized that the critical factor for success lies in quickly connecting users with services after they've detoxified and then providing them with treatment.
Capacity is still a concern for the RESET center, as it currently plans to accommodate 24 individuals at a time. Advocates have expressed doubts about this number, but it's seen as a good starting point.
The Reset Center aims to open on April 1, marking a new era in San Francisco's efforts to tackle its devastating opioid crisis. The city is working hard to ensure that those struggling with addiction receive the help they need.