Most California Counties Delaying Involuntary Treatment Programs for Severely Mentally Ill, Addicted

Nearly 50 of the Golden State’s 58 counties are planning to delay implementation of the new state law taking effect Jan. 1—some for up to two years.

A lab technician cares for a patient in the Emergency Department at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, Calif., on March 11, 2022. Mario Tama/Getty Images

A newly signed California law to address the growing number of individuals suffering from mental health crises is being met with caution by some county officials, with others urging implementation as soon as possible.

Senate Bill 43—which becomes effective on Jan. 1, 2024—expands criteria for involuntary treatment to include those suffering from substance abuse or chronic alcoholism.