San Francisco, CA — The Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS), and it’s west coast affiliate the Pacific Alliance for Prevention and Recovery (PAPR), praised San Francisco officials today for prioritizing long-term recovery in the city’s approach to addiction. The “Recovery First” ordinance, signed into law by Mayor London Breed, represents a landmark shift in drug policy—one that defines recovery as a healthy, self-directed life free from illegal drug use.
FDPS Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet issued the following statement:
“Today’s signing of the “Recovery First” ordinance marks a pivotal shift in how cities across the nation can confront the drug crisis with clarity, compassion, and a firm commitment to true recovery. I applaud Supervisor Matt Dorsey and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for their leadership in embracing a policy that places long-term recovery at the center of substance use treatment.
“I am proud to support this movement and thankful to our West Coast Director Tom Wolf, who has been a tireless advocate on the ground in San Francisco. His lived experience and leadership have been instrumental in helping shape this policy and reminding us all of what’s possible.
“For too long, America’s response to addiction has lacked a unifying goal. The ‘Recovery First’ ordinance begins to change that by defining recovery as a healthy, self-directed life free from illegal drug use, a definition grounded in science and shared by millions of Americans.
“San Francisco’s overdose death rates, especially among the city’s Black residents, have reached devastating levels. This is a crisis that demands more than temporary fixes. It requires a North Star. Supervisor Dorsey and his colleagues have taken a critical step toward real solutions by affirming that recovery is possible and should be the ultimate goal of public health and safety strategies.
“This ordinance does not dismiss the importance of prevention, harm reduction interventions, treatment, or enforcement. Instead, it rightly reorients city services toward helping people break free from addiction and reclaim their lives.”
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