A new facility meant to allow San Francisco officials to arrest more drug users has a wrinkle that’s surprising some of its main advocates: Those detained can walk out soon after arriving.
On Monday, the city will open the RESET Center at 444 6th St. as an alternative to hospital or jail for drug users. The new center — RESET is short for Rapid Enforcement, Support, Evaluation, and Triage — allows police to trim the time they spend on each drug arrest by forgoing jail intake paperwork. At the 24/7 facility, drug users will have access to showers, transportation to drug treatment, and comfy leather recliner chairs. The initiative has been touted as part of the city’s new “tough love” (opens in new tab) approach to the fentanyl epidemic.
“It’s another option for people,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said at a press conference Wednesday at the site. “We are going to try everything at our disposal to help people get off the street and stop people from dying.”…