Most California Counties Delaying Involuntary Treatment Programs for Severely Mentally Ill, Addicted

A newly signed California law to address the growing number of individuals suffering from mental health crises is being met with caution by some county officials, with others urging implementation as soon as possible. Senate Bill 43—which becomes effective Jan. 1, 2024—expands criteria for involuntary treatment to include those suffering from substance abuse or chronic alcoholism. The new measure offers mental health services for those unable to care for themselves, giving family members and others the opportunity to petition for treatment for at-risk individuals. “People are struggling with severe substance abuse and mental health challenges in our city to the point where they cannot help themselves,” London Breed, San Francisco mayor, said in a Dec. 7 press release highlighting the city’s readiness to enact the measure on day one. “When we have an opportunity to put a new solution into place, we must work quickly to do everything we can to implement it.”...