Bipartisan group of legislators, city leaders, and advocates calls for legislative reforms to alcohol and drug treatment facilities

Contact: Rachel Vincent
rvincent@calcities.org
(916) 882-8656

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Santa Ana — A bipartisan group of state lawmakers, city officials, and a patient advocate gathered in Santa Ana today to call for increased oversight and transparency over sober living and treatment facilities.  

The news conference, organized by the League of California Cities, centered around Cal Cities’ four sponsored bills that seek to reform alcohol and drug treatment facilities in the state: SB 329 by Sen. Catherine Blakespear, AB 424 by Asm. Laurie Davies, SB 35 by Sen. Tom Umberg, and AB 492 by Asm. Avelino Valencia.

“Cities are calling on the state to take action now to stem the tide of years of inaction and address the lack of accountability and oversight of recovery housing facilities in our communities,” said Cal Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. “Cal Cities is proud to sponsor this common-sense bill package that safeguards every person’s well-being and care, both inside and outside recovery homes.”

A recent state audit found that the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has failed to investigate complaints consistently and thoroughly, jeopardizing patient and community safety. Specifically, auditors found it took DHCS analysts nearly one year on average to submit investigative reports. Common complaints include sexual misconduct, poor management of medications for residents, and use of unlicensed counselors.

“It’s alarming to hear that serious complaints about alcohol and drug treatment facilities can take more than a year to follow up on,” said Sen. Catherine Blakespear. “SB 329 ensures the state will investigate complaints about state-licensed facilities methodically and expeditiously to safeguard the health and safety of patients and surrounding communities.”

Cal Cities’ legislative package aims to improve communication between the state and cities by requiring the state to notify cities when new treatment facilities are approved and to provide updates to cities and residents on the status of state investigations into treatment facilities. The current lack of communication impedes a city’s ability to expeditiously address community concerns, maintain public safety, and transition recovery and treatment programs into their communities. 

“AB 424 is a critical step towards fixing California’s substance use disorder treatment system,” said Asm. Laurie Davies. “Bad treatment experiences should be investigated and corrected quickly. The public shouldn’t be kept in the dark as to whether or not corrective actions are being taken or if the complaint was received. Patients can use their lived experience, good or bad, to help the state improve treatment.”

In Santa Ana, like many cities in Orange County, there is an overconcentration of recovery homes and treatment facilities, most in residential neighborhoods. The  lack of consistent and timely state oversight has put many vulnerable Californians in danger. 

“Santa Ana, like many cities in Orange County, has a significant number of sober living homes, most of which are located in residential neighborhoods rather than near medical facilities or other supportive services,” said Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua. “This concentration raises concerns about oversight, accountability, and the impact on both residents and the surrounding community. These homes must be held to the regulatory standards that the State expects of such facilities to ensure proper care and support, especially when complaints are submitted.”

Cities in Orange County are disproportionately impacted by the presence of drug and alcohol treatment facilities, with over 300 located across the county. This is second only to Los Angeles County despite it being a fraction of the size.

“The growing momentum behind the cascade of legislative proposals moving through Sacramento right now is the direct result of local jurisdictions across California standing together to demand change for our communities,” said Mission Viejo Mayor Pro Tem and Co-Chair of the California Sober Living and Recovery Task Force Wendy Bucknum. “We’re advocating not only for residents whose neighborhoods have been disrupted but also for patients who have been mistreated and abused by a broken system. It’s time for these bipartisan, commonsense reforms to bring accountability and better care to sober living homes.”

For many staying in recovery housing facilities that are unchecked or unregulated, their paths to recovery can be thwarted, and their lives can be endangered.

“Everyone should be concerned with patient brokering, because almost everyone has been touched by addiction,” said patient advocate Sequoyah Thiessen. “Here in California, immeasurable exploitation is going on in the places people go to seek help at the most vulnerable time in their lives.  I am honored to work with lawmakers, city officials, and other community members to be part of the solution.” 

Established in 1898, the League of California Cities is a nonprofit statewide association that advocates for cities with the state and federal governments and provides education and training services to elected and appointed city officials.

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