SF mayor unveils plan to arrest, treat drug users and open up new sobering center

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie unveiled a new plan to tackle the city's drug crisis: a law enforcement sobering center to get people who are doing drugs off the streets and into treatment.

This is happening after more than 600 people died from drug overdoses last year.

LUZ PENA: "So talk to us about this sobering center. What's the plan?"

"Well, first let me say, we as a city were caught flat-footed by the fentanyl crisis. Since January, we are tackling this in new and innovative ways. We have neighborhood outreach teams. We've set up over 500 treatment and recovery beds. And this center is going to allow us a new tool," Lurie said. "And that is because, previously, it was either jail or the emergency room. Now, you continue to use openly on our streets, we're going to arrest you, and you have an option of treatment or jail."

Sheriff Paul Miyamoto's department will be overseeing the new center. It will initially accommodate 16 to 25 people at a time. Individuals will be able to stay there for 23 hours.

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LUZ PENA: "Are you guys going to be picking up people that you see on the streets who are using drugs?"

"Yes. This is exactly designed to deal with people who are under the influence out on the street -- who fall just short of committing crimes in front of other people -- but who are clearly under the influence, not able to take care of themselves," Miyamoto said.

LUZ PENA: "What if these individuals don't want help?"

"Well, that's the part where it's more compelled here," Miyamoto said. "We're looking at individuals who are under the influence, who are clearly not able to care for themselves -- in the context of actually committing a crime -- by being under the influence. So, we're bringing them into custody."

Right now, San Francisco has several sobering and crisis stabilization centers. They are all voluntary. We toured one of the facilities.

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"This is an ADA room. This is wheelchair accessible for anyone with an American Disabilities Act right here. It's the showers, wheelchair accessible," said Jeremiah Davis, lead monitor for the nonprofit Positive Directions Equals Changes.

Individuals who go to Positive Directions Equals Changes for help can stay there up to 90 days.

LUZ PENA: "What are the treatments for the getting here?"

"Behavioral, drug treatment and homelessness. We address homelessness," Davis said.

LUZ PENA: "And then from here, where do they go?"

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"We have various resources outside. We have different programs. We have a sober shelter that we can refer to. We have various places," Davis said.

Positive Directions Equals Changes has 72 stabilization beds. Cedric Akbar, forensics director for the nonprofit, is glad the city has a new approach.

"I always believe in the aggressive approach at this time, because we have been so complacent, and allowing people to do whatever they want to do," Akbar said. "As far as I know, they're using drugs on the street, selling drugs on the street. Stealing from stores is illegal, and it needs to be held accountable. People need to be held accountable for their actions."

The city's sobering center is set to open its doors in the spring of next year.

After individuals are released from the sobering center, they will be led to long-term treatment.

The sheriff confirmed that these detentions won't result in charges against individuals.