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Safe Consumption Site Potentially Coming to San Francisco

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Safe Consumption Site Potentially Coming to San Francisco

San Francisco Mayor London Breed, D, announced on November 16 that her office was looking to purchase a building in the Tenderloin District. This building is a former Goodwill and would cost the city $6.3 million. But, it would be used to house behavioral health services, including a safe consumption site. 

Mayor Breed wasn’t able to comment following the announcement. However, District Supervisor Matt Haney explained the importance of this purchase for the city regarding safe consumption sites. “We know that these [safe consumption] sites can save lives,” Haney said. “Here in the Tenderloin we have public drug use that is unacceptable on our streets and sidewalks. People are dying at nearly two people a day. And so we need to get people inside, off the streets, save their lives and get them into care and treatment.”

One reason advocates, including Mayor Breed, are pushing for safe consumption sites is because of the overdose crisis across the country, but especially for the city. Last year, there were 712 fatal overdoses in San Francisco. That is three times more than the number of residents who died from Covid-19 in the same amount of time. Nationwide, more than 100,000 fatal overdoses were recorded in a 12 month period ending in April 2021. This is the highest number of recorded deaths from overdoses recorded in US History, according to the CDC.  

Safe Consumption Sites

For combating the opioid epidemic in the U.S., advocates and lawmakers are looking into innovative alternatives, including safe consumption sites. These facilities have pre-obtained drugs and individuals consume these untainted drugs next to trained staff. All supplies are sterile and the facility becomes more than a safe environment. It helps those who need help and removes the activity off the streets. 

There has been debate recently regarding the legality of safe consumption sites. Previous administrations have made efforts to stop these locations from opening up, even if local and state governments have legalized them. For example, Safehouse, a safe consumption site location, attempted to open a location in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania lawmakers approved the location and construction was set to begin.

However, before Safehouse could begin constriction, the Trump Administration filed lawsuit against Safehouse on grounds that they would be freely giving illegal drugs to individuals. Safehouse fought back and took their case to the Supreme Court. But the Supreme Court declined to take up the case. This now sends Safehouse’s case back down to district courts. During that trial, the Biden Administration will need to voice their opinion on the legality of safe consumption sites like Safehouse and if they will be legal or not. 

Next Steps

For now, San Francisco lawmakers and advocates will move forward with their plans for a safe consumption site.

“[Mayor Breed] has been very clear about her desire to offer these services in San Francisco,” Laura Thomas said. She is the harm reduction director at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. “So it’s a matter of the city figuring out how to do it. It’s more a matter of ‘when’ the city will open these services, not ‘if’.

“The mayor and the city attorney are working closely to identify the best legal strategies that will both allow the city to authorize these services and ensure that anyone working in them or accessing services is protected from legal repercussions,” Thomas continued. “That’s where I think there’s still some uncertainty about what is needed.”

Even though there are uncertainties, San Francisco will most likely become the first city in the U.S. to offer safe consumption sites. Once open, trained healthcare providers will take care of those with addiction and get them the help they need over criminalizing a health condition. As more information becomes available, we will update you with the latest.

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