By Aneesa Grant, The Seattle Medium
On Tues., the Seattle City Council has approved legislation that fundamentally reshapes the city’s approach to public drug use and possession, placing a strong emphasis on treatment and diversion services. Proposed by Mayor Bruce Harrell and co-sponsored by Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis, this comprehensive proposal, according to officials, represents a collaborative effort among public health officials, service providers, elected leaders, and law enforcement.
The legislation, passed with a 6-3 vote, includes a series of commitments and investments aimed at addressing the pressing issue of drug addiction within the city.
“Today, we’re making the most substantive commitment to treatment and diversion in Seattle’s history,” said Councilmember Lewis. “By taking the time and listening to the experts, we ensured our approach won’t continue to make the same mistakes of the past. Rather, we are investing in a new system that prioritizes recovery while still taking a strong stance on public drug use.”
Key elements of the legislation include:
• Substantial Funding: A total of $7 million in new capital investments this year will be directed towards drug treatment programs, and an additional $20 million will be allocated to enhance treatment and overdose response services.
• Alignment with State Law: The legislation adopts the State Legislature’s new drug possession law into the Seattle Municipal Code. This represents a significant step in reconciling local and state approaches to drug possession.
• Executive Order: Mayor Harrell will issue an executive order providing guidance to police officers on how to apply the new law. It designates diversion and treatment as the preferred approach to addressing substance use issues while retaining the ability to make arrests when necessary.
Councilmember Sara Nelson, who initially proposed similar legislation six months ago, acknowledged the urgency of the situation and is supportive of the city’s new approach,
“The drug crisis we see playing out on our streets is the most crushing public health and safety issue of our time,” says Nelson. “We have a moral obligation to do everything within our power to reverse this devastating loss of life and associated community harms.”
Councilmember Lisa Herbold, co-sponsor of the legislation, emphasized the need for a balanced approach, saying, “We know a police-only response to addiction will not work. This legislation acknowledges that and, for the first time in Seattle, explicitly states that diversion and treatment should be the foundation of our response to drug use.”
The legislation creates a framework that prioritizes non-criminal intervention for public drug use and possession, with clear guidance for Seattle police officers on when and how to use pre-arrest and pre-booking diversion strategies. It limits prosecution to be a last resort, emphasizing treatment over punitive measures.
To address concerns about racial disparities, the legislation includes safeguards for data collection and reporting on the race of individuals diverted and those facing jail and prosecution. This measure aims to ensure that the diversion system promotes racial equity.
“Today’s vote by the City Council is a needed step forward in our efforts to address the deadly epidemic of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs,” said Mayor Harrell. “This legislation cannot make all the difference on its own – but linked with treatment programs, health services, and diversion options, we can help people who are suffering from the disease of substance use disorder find and access a path to recovery.
In a year marked by 761 overdose deaths in King County involving fentanyl, the legislation sends a clear message about the city’s commitment to public health and safety. It codifies state law regarding public consumption of illegal drugs, designates diversion and treatment as the preferred approach, and defines a new threat of harm standard.
Mayor Harrell highlighted the multifaceted approach to combat the drug crisis, which includes expanding treatment programs, investing in capital facilities, funding medication delivery for opioid use disorders, and supporting harm reduction providers.
“Fentanyl is tragically killing thousands in our city and around the country, and we need urgency and innovative solutions to make change,” said Harrell.
“In this bill, we are also making it clear that putting the public’s health and safety at risk when consuming drugs is unacceptable. Everyone in our city deserves to feel safe and to be safe – waiting for a bus, entering a small business, walking any street in any neighborhood. This law will help us toward that goal,” he concluded.
