FDPS Commends Mayor Lurie’s Decision to Rethink Harm Reduction Measures After Pleas from Recovery Community
(SAN FRANCISCO, CA)—The Foundation for Drug Policy Solution (FDPS) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a three-time White House drug policy advisor, released the following statement in response to San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s recent Executive Directive to address the intertwined and ongoing crises of drug addiction, mental illness, and homelessness in San Francisco.
“I commend Mayor Lurie for listening to the recovery community in San Francisco and deciding to make recovery and accountability the cornerstones of the city’s drug policy. For too long, politicians have supported services that have failed to address the intertwined crises of drug addiction, mental illness, and homelessness. Today represents a turn away from permissive experimental drug policies and toward evidence-based practices.
“Notably, his Executive Directive ended policies that were essentially subsidizing drug addiction, such as with the public distribution of foil and straws. There have been a number of reports that passing out ‘safe’ drug-using supplies was a common practice among employees in the government and the nonprofit sector in San Francisco. Mayor Lurie also outlined a plan for an additional investment in a sober shelter as well as in transitional drug-free housing.
“Stanford professor Keith Humphreys insightfully calls Lurie’s plan an integration of compassion and accountability. We couldn’t agree more. While we must wait to see how this plan will be implemented in practice, we are cautiously optimistic that it represents a step in the right direction.
“Last but not least, we must thank the recovery activists who did the yearslong advocacy work that led to Mayor Lurie’s swift changes. Chief among them is our colleague Tom Wolf, who heads up FDPS’ pacific division, the Pacific Alliance for Prevention and Recovery (PAPR), an activist in long-term recovery who tirelessly fought for these reforms. In Tom’s own poignant words, ‘Mayor Lurie has been listening to the recovery community.’ Our hope is that other cities will listen too.”
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