U.S. - San Francisco to force treatment on mentally ill drug users

[S.J.B.]

San Francisco to force treatment on mentally ill drug users
Janie Har
AP News
June 4th, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco officials decided Tuesday to force some people with serious mental illness and drug addiction into treatment, even if it goes against the spirit of a city known for its fierce protection of civil rights.

Several members of the Board of Supervisors voiced deep concerns Tuesday about the possibility of taking away a person’s civil liberties, but the proposal for a pilot program passed 10-1.

Mayor London Breed and other supporters say the move — known as conservatorship — is necessary to help people who are often homeless, addicted to drugs and have a mental illness, making them a danger to themselves.

“Allowing people to continue to suffer on our streets is not acceptable or humane, and I am glad the Board of Supervisors supported our approach to finally make a change,” Breed said in a statement after the vote.

The measure would apply to a handful of people, the city’s department of public health estimated, although the number would grow under legislation pending at the state level.

Read the full story here.

 

[cj]

I was skeptical but honestly 8 psychiatric holds in a year is pretty ridiculous. I just hope the beds dont go to private facilities that will havea financial interest in warehousing people

 

[Boku_]

What is the difference between this and being classed as a involuntary patient in the Australian health system where a person is forced to undergo a community treatment order? They too get detained for psychiatric hospitalization and even once discharged from the acute psych wardvthey have to attend out patient appointments until a board of doctor's decide the person is stable and not dangerous to the community or themselves.

Is it just more long term?

Homelessness is a serious problem in Australia too. People fall through the cracks all the time.

How well funded is public housing in San Francisco?