Supervisor Defends Dropping Support for Addiction-Treatment Centers
Supervisor Matt Dorsey received backlash this month for asking the mayor to redirect the entire $18.9 million in city funding budgeted for a new drop-in addiction treatment center toward jails instead. Dorsey told the San Francisco Public Press that he reversed his previous support for the centers — called wellness hubs — once the city’s plans narrowed to one site from six, and removed safe consumption sites, which would have allowed people to consume drugs under supervision so they could receive immediate help in case of overdose. Dorsey said he now wants the funds to go toward jail health services, including forcing treatment for people in jail who are struggling with substance abuse disorder. “I think there’s a way to make custodial and coercive interventions lifesaving interventions,” Dorsey said. Police began jailing people who openly used drugs or appeared intoxicated […]
