Board adopts amended drug market intervention resolution to address fentanyl crisis

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on March 25 adopted a resolution urging the city to implement a Drug Market Intervention strategy aimed at disrupting open-air drug markets, with a focus on community-driven prevention, workforce and youth development, and minimized reliance on enforcement. The resolution passed, as amended, by a vote of 7–2.

Supervisor Mahmood, who introduced the resolution, said the DMI framework responds to community advocacy and evidence from other cities and “offers a comprehensive and community driven approach from the supply side of this problem to dismantling open air drug markets while creating pathways for prevention and intervention.” She told the board the resolution calls for specialists to guide city departments to “diagnose the situation and prescribe a roadmap” tailored for San Francisco.

The amended resolution adds language to limit enforcement where possible and to prioritize interagency coordination among law enforcement, public health and social service agencies. It also incorporates a provision noting activities of the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center (DMACC), including seizures and arrests, and highlights that enforcement operations have been limited to several days per week.

Supervisor Jackie Fielder, who proposed amendments and ultimately voted against the final measure, warned enforcement divorced from public-health metrics could lead to more arrests of people who use drugs rather than dealers and could increase overdose risk. “We need both enforcement and treatment if we want street conditions to improve,” Fielder said, citing recent research on displacement effects and rises in overdose incidents following seizures.

Supervisor Connie Chan also opposed the resolution as presented, saying she was not ready to “center our resources around this one strategy” and raised staffing and overtime concerns tied to enforcement efforts associated with DMACC. Chan said she wanted a more comprehensive, citywide approach from the mayor and administration before endorsing this specific model.

Supporters of the resolution emphasized non-punitive elements: funding for community ambassador programs, alternatives for first-time nonviolent offenders, and investments in youth development, job training and “safe passage” efforts. The final motion to amend and adopt the resolution was seconded by Supervisors Dorsey and Fielder and prevailed 7–2, with Supervisors Chan and Fielder recorded as voting no.

The vote records and the version of the resolution adopted direct the city to prepare a DMI implementation roadmap and to recommend resources for workforce and youth programs, plus strengthened community-based disruption initiatives. The resolution does not itself appropriate funding; it requests coordination and planning across departments.

A procedural note: the board considered and voted on the amendment and then conducted a roll call vote on the amended resolution. Public comment on this agenda item was taken earlier in the meeting during the regular agenda sequence.

Looking ahead, the resolution requests that city departments report back with implementation recommendations and anticipated resource needs; no specific deadlines or funding allocations were specified in the adopted text.