New York City Mayor Eric Adams has ignited a fierce debate with his latest proposal: the Compassionate Interventions Act, a sweeping legislative push aimed at tackling the city’s persistent drug crisis by expanding involuntary commitment laws to include people struggling with substance use disorder. Announced on August 14, 2025, the plan seeks to empower doctors, social workers, and even police officers to transport individuals who appear to be at risk because of substance use to hospitals, where, with court approval, treatment could be mandated—even against the person’s will.
“We know there’s skepticism, but I’ll tell you what New Yorkers don’t want. They don’t want someone injecting themselves with drugs on their porches,” Adams told reporters, according to The Center Square. “They don’t want someone in the subway system that’s under the influence of some form of substance abuse. This cannot be allowed to continue. We must help those struggling to finally get treatment, whether they recognize the need for it or not.”
The Compassionate Interventions Act, if approved by the state Legislature, would mark a significant shift in New York’s approach to addiction. At present, involuntary commitment in the state is reserved only for those suffering from mental illness who are deemed an immediate danger to themselves or others. Under the current law, a person cannot be admitted for involuntary treatment solely on the basis of substance use disorder unless it is accompanied by a diagnosable mental illness. Adams’ proposal would update the legal definition of “danger” to include untreated substance use disorder, effectively closing a gap that, according to Adams and his supporters, has left many vulnerable individuals without the help they desperately need.
The proposal is not without precedent. As reported by City Journal, 36 states and the District of Columbia already have laws on the books that allow for involuntary commitment of people with substance use disorder. In many of these states, a family member or doctor can petition a court to temporarily detain an individual for evaluation; if a medical professional determines the person poses a significant threat to themselves or others, a judge can mandate treatment, which may be inpatient or outpatient, depending on the case. New York would join this growing list if the Compassionate Interventions Act becomes law.
Adams’ plan comes at a time when public frustration over drug use in New York has reached a boiling point. Hot spots like Washington Square Park and the Bronx Hub have become notorious for open drug use and encampments, sometimes in full view of tourists and children. The city recorded more than 2,100 overdose deaths in 2024, a grim reminder of the scale of the crisis. “Addiction doesn’t just harm individual users; it tears apart lives, families, and entire communities, and we must change the system to keep all New Yorkers safer,” Adams said at a Manhattan Institute event, according to City Journal.
The mayor’s proposal is bolstered by a $27 million investment to improve access to addiction treatment, as well as an additional $14 million to increase funding for syringe service programs. Adams is working closely with Dr. Mitchell Katz, CEO and president of NYC Health and Hospitals, to ensure that the program does more than just get people through the hospital doors. “We all recognize how difficult addiction is and how hard it is to treat, and that’s why I so appreciate the mayor doing this initiative, because right now, what often happens if somebody is found in the subway … we bring them to the hospital, and then the substance is clear, we release them,” Katz explained on NY1. “The compassionate thing to do is to actually treat them. And so now we’re going to have the tools to be able to say, ‘We’re not just releasing you, because you need help.’”
But not everyone is convinced that involuntary treatment is the answer. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from homeless advocates and substance abuse organizations, who argue that it fails to address the root causes of addiction and risks further stigmatizing those in need. Anne Marie Foster, president and CEO of Phoenix House New York, told The Center Square, “New Yorkers suffering from substance use disorder will continue to suffer until they have the resources they need and decide for themselves to get well. Involuntary commitment for severe substance use disorder just doesn’t work—and raises countless clinical and ethical concerns around patient autonomy and justice.”
The Legal Aid Society was even more blunt in its assessment, warning that the proposal “will not solve the drug war or end the overdose crisis; it will only deepen mistrust, waste resources, and cause lasting harm to the very people the city claims to want to help.” The organization’s statement continued: “Forcing New Yorkers struggling with addiction into involuntary detention is traumatic, raises serious civil rights concerns, and does nothing to address the root causes of substance use. If the mayor were serious about saving lives, he would invest in proven harm reduction strategies, voluntary treatment, permanent housing, and community-based supports—not policies that amount to state-sanctioned incarceration in medical settings.”
Adams, for his part, has acknowledged the controversy and the likelihood of legal and ethical challenges. He points to the city’s previous expansion of involuntary commitment laws for mental illness, signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul in May 2025, as evidence that public opinion can shift. That earlier policy allowed authorities to take mentally ill people off the streets if they were too sick to care for themselves, even if they did not pose an immediate risk of physical harm. “When you go back to, actually 2022, when I talked about involuntary removals around those with severe mental health illness if they can’t take care of themselves, or they’re a danger to themselves and others—there was a lot of controversy, and then many of our lawmakers and others, they came around and sided with the public,” Adams said on “Mornings On 1.”
The Compassionate Interventions Act is slated for introduction in the 2026 state legislative session. If passed, it would align New York’s policies with those of 37 other states that allow involuntary commitment for addiction treatment. The measure is also intended to complement Adams’ Bridge to Home initiative, which aims to provide housing and comprehensive support for those with mental health and substance use challenges.
Supporters of the proposal argue that, while no single approach can solve the complex problem of addiction, the status quo is failing too many New Yorkers. They point to programs like 24/7 sobriety monitoring and drug courts—which offer alternatives to incarceration for those who comply with treatment requirements—as evidence that compulsory treatment, when properly resourced, can yield positive outcomes. Studies have shown that such programs can reduce substance abuse and reoffending rates, though critics caution that their effectiveness depends on robust support systems and adequate treatment capacity.
And therein lies a major challenge: nationally, 96 percent of addiction treatment beds are already full, according to City Journal. Overdoses remain the leading cause of death for young people in the United States, a stark indicator of the need for new solutions. Even Adams’ supporters acknowledge that increased civil commitment alone won’t solve the crisis—expanded resources for inpatient and outpatient care, housing, and long-term support are essential if the city hopes to make a lasting impact.
As the city prepares for what promises to be a contentious legislative battle, one thing is clear: the debate over how best to address addiction in New York is far from settled. Whether the Compassionate Interventions Act becomes law or not, the conversation it has sparked is likely to shape the city’s response to substance use disorder for years to come.