(KRON) — On Tuesday, San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston introduced a resolution in support of a bill expanding access to Methadone, the most effective medication for easing the debilitating symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
Assembly Bill 2115 was introduced by California Assemblymember Matt Haney to expand access to methadone statewide. The bill’s resolution will allow clinics to dispense 72-hour doses of Methadone when requested, removing significant barriers to the hard-to-access treatment.
Per the California Department of Public Health, in 2021, California experienced nearly 6,000 opioid-related overdose deaths. Simultaneously, overdose deaths in San Francisco have continued to increase, with 2023 marking the deadliest year on record at 806 deaths.
“We must do everything in our power to ensure that we make it as easy as possible for folks who are ready and willing to start treatment to do so,” Preston said. “This bill will save lives by expanding access to treatment and ensuring more people get the help they need without delay.”
According to Haney, California is the state with the most restrictive methadone laws in the country. The passing of the bill will ensure that people with opioid addiction are able to access this lifesaving treatment by removing outdated laws that were first crafted during the Vietnam War.
AB2115 passed the Business and Professions Committee on Tuesday and will next go to the Assembly Health Committee.
