Such policies reflect public fears about substance use and issues associated with people living without shelter, but they stem from flawed narratives that people who use drugs and are unhoused are dangerous and the assumption that harsher penalties for substance use and homelessness improve public safety. Evidence shows otherwise. These narratives also fail to account for this population’s extensive health and social needs. Consequently, these laws will expose more vulnerable individuals to the harms of incarceration, fail to improve public safety, and exacerbate the homelessness crisis. To address drug use and homelessness, policy makers and public health experts should prioritize evidence-based alternatives to criminalization that improve public health and safety.
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