Resilience Smart Cities

San Francisco sending alcohol, tobacco, medical marijuana to addicts quarantined in hotels

by Alexandra Kelley | May. 07, 2020

coronavirus COVID-19 community spread san francisco addicts chronicle health public hotels methadone alcohol substance cannabis delivery private donations
Stuart Malcolm, a doctor with the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic, speaks with homeless people about the coronavirus (COVID-19) in front of a boarded-up shop in the Haight Ashbury area of San Francisco California on March 17, 2020. JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images

Story at a glance

  • San Francisco has leased hotels to temporarily house people experiencing homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Residents with addiction can have substances such as alcohol or tobacco delivered to the hotels to prevent stay-at-home violations.
  • The city is not spending taxpayer funds on the initiative.

As San Francisco grapples with how to help some of its most vulnerable residents self-isolate during the coronavirus pandemic, the city is finding ways to assist those coping with addictions. 

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the city is administering alcohol, tobacco, medical cannabis and other substances to a handful of people isolating in city-leased hotels. It’s part of an effort to keep addicts from venturing outside to get the drugs themselves in the midst of the pandemic while they cope with the loss or reduction of their core drugs. 

The hotel residents — many of whom are experiencing homelessness — are also receiving medications like methadone to treat heroin addictions. The medication is provided by nearby methadone clinics. The drugs and medication also came from private donations.

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The San Francisco Department of Public Health confirmed this news to the Chronicle on Wednesday. This strategy is part of a “harm reduction” approach to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus by helping addicts stay inside. 

Multiple cities, such as New York, have utilized hotel spaces to fight the coronavirus spread, including renting them to individuals who may have been exposed and do not want to infect families or close contacts. 

The city health department will also provide networks of clinicians and social workers to offer addiction treatment and support while residing in the hotels. 

East of San Francisco, Oakland is also helping the Bay Area homeless population by housing them in state-funded FEMA trailers and providing access to medical and social resources. 

Jenna Lane, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, is working to help both the public and addicted individuals during the pandemic. 

“They’re doing San Francisco a great service by staying inside,” Lane told reporters. “We’re saying, ‘We’re doing what we can to support you staying inside and not have to go out and get these things.’” 

The health department reiterated that no public funds will be used to provide substances to hotel residents. 

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