Seattle drug plan will balance rehabilitation and public safety, Harrell says

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell explained his plan Thursday to balance public safety and rehabilitation in the face of a growing opioid crisis that has killed more Washingtonians so far in 2023 than all of last year.

Harrell issued an executive order Thursday that spells out what police and other officials will do to enforce the city’s new drug consumption law. That controversial law was approved last week to align Seattle’s city code with state law and allow the city attorney to prosecute charges of public drug use and possession.

Harrell’s enforcement order emphasizes rehabilitation and providing people with services over arrests and imprisonment. Officers will only arrest opioid users if they are a threat to others, using drugs near businesses, public events child care facilities, parks, or transportation stops.

If an opioid user is not posing a threat to others, officers will “make a reasonable attempt” to connect them with resources instead of arresting them, Harrell said.

“Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs are killing people, causing harm, and creating unsafe conditions Downtown and in neighborhoods across Seattle,” Harrell said in a prepared statement. “This law gives us another tool to help those in need access treatment and to keep sidewalks and neighborhoods welcoming for all residents.”

Chief Adrian Diaz said Seattle Police are ready to implement the new law in accordance with Harrell’s guidelines.

“We are committed to ensuring that the enforcement efforts are equitable, treatment-focused, and evidence-based, but which also provides communities some respite from the chronic public harm that both the ordinance and the executive order acknowledge,” Diaz said in a written response to Harrell’s announcement.

The executive order also provides measures for the city to collect data to measure the effectiveness of the new drug law. That data includes the number of people referred to diversion programs compared to the number of people arrested for drug possession and use.

The city’s new drug law takes effect next month.