San Francisco Ties Drug Paraphernalia Access to Treatment in New Fentanyl Policy

Mayor Daniel Lurie’s initiative requires drug users to agree to counseling or treatment to receive supplies, drawing criticism from harm reduction advocates.

• San Francisco will require drug users to agree to counseling or treatment to access fentanyl-smoking supplies, effective April 30, 2025.
• The policy, part of Mayor Daniel Lurie’s 'Breaking the Cycle' plan, aims to address the city’s fentanyl crisis and reduce overdose deaths.
• Distribution of drug paraphernalia will move indoors to city-approved spaces, ending public distribution practices.
• Harm reduction advocates warn the policy could push users toward riskier behaviors like sharing pipes or injection drug use, increasing health risks.
• The San Francisco Department of Public Health will monitor overdose rates and disease transmission to assess the policy’s public health impact.

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