San Francisco has begun reversing its liberal drug policies after years of open-air drug use and rising overdose deaths. Mayor Daniel Lurie, elected in 2024, campaigned on restoring order to a city where fentanyl users openly smoked and injected drugs in public spaces. The city's harm reduction approach, which prioritized keeping addicts alive over treatment, led to record overdose deaths and business closures.

Under the previous administration, San Francisco became a model for progressive drug policies that effectively decriminalized public drug use. The strategy, rooted in physical autonomy arguments, resulted in tent encampments lining city blocks and addicts treating sidewalks as campgrounds. CVS and pharmacies closed locations as shoplifting surged alongside drug use. By 2023, accidental overdose deaths reached 800 annually, triple the national rate.

The new administration is implementing a more forceful approach, deploying community ambassadors to encourage treatment while maintaining public order. This shift represents a significant departure from the city's previous stance that emphasized bodily autonomy over public safety. The transformation is still in early stages, but officials report fewer visible drug users and reduced tent encampments. The policy reversal comes as Democrats nationwide face criticism for rising disorder in progressive cities, contributing to the party's declining popularity relative to President Trump and other institutions.