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NYC Mayor Pushes Law To Involuntarily Lock Up Drug Addicts

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New York Mayor Eric Adams
via Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is pushing a controversial new plan that could allow doctors to forcibly remove drug addicts from the streets and into treatment.

Mayor Adams unveiled the proposed “Compassionate Interventions Act” on Thursday, pitching it as a way to tackle the city’s growing drug crisis and restore a sense of order to neighborhoods plagued by open narcotics use.

Under the proposal, a physician could initiate an involuntary hospital admission for anyone “who appears to pose a danger to themselves or others due to substance use.”

A judge could then mandate treatment if the individual refuses to participate voluntarily.

The mayor’s office noted that public drug use “degrades quality of life and leaves a feeling of disorder among many city residents,” insisting the measure is intended to get addicts the help they need while improving public safety.

Adams said the legislation is part of a broader effort to confront the intertwined crises of drug abuse, homelessness, and mental illness.

“While we have made our system work better to address severe mental illness and homelessness, we often hear from New Yorkers that there are still too many people in need of help,” he said.

If approved, the plan would put New York among 38 states where involuntary drug treatment is already permitted.

The announcement came as Adams launched his “End Culture of Anything Goes” campaign, which is a direct rebuke to what he sees as years of unchecked lawlessness in the Big Apple.

“Our administration refuses to turn our backs on New Yorkers in need, and with today’s announcement, we’re laying out a vision that will help get everyone the support they need,” the mayor said.

“In the name of public safety, public health, and the public interest, we must rally to help those in crisis because ‘anything goes’ is worse than nothing at all.”

Adams also pledged an additional $27 million for substance abuse programs, including more street outreach teams and initiatives to keep patients in treatment once they start.

But even as Adams promoted his public safety agenda, his political fight loomed large.

Speaking to Politico on Thursday, the mayor dismissed speculation that he might bow out of the mayoral race despite lagging behind in the polls.

The independent candidate is trailing socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.

“If there were people running for mayor that I believe would continue the progress of our city, that’s an easy call,” Adams told Politico.

“The people who are running — they are harmful to our city and the progress we’ve made. And I owe it to New Yorkers to get my story out to them and to run a campaign.”

Asked whether Mamdani or Cuomo would be the greater threat to the city’s future, Adams wouldn’t choose.

“Both of them are extremely problematic,” he said.

The mayor, who was indicted last year by Biden’s Justice Department on bribery, campaign finance, and conspiracy charges, remains adamant that history will look favorably on his tenure.

In April, a Biden-appointed federal judge dismissed the indictment “with prejudice,” ending the case.

“History is going to be kind to me when I’m out of the political spotlight 10, 15 years from now,” Adams told Politico.

“They’re going to look over and say: You know what? We got to give this guy his due.”

Adams has also questioned whether his opponents could keep the city secure without working with the White House.

“I don’t know how they’re going to be able to ensure that we deal with some of the international terrorism, the international issues,” he said, noting New York’s status as a prime target.

“How do we do that to keep the city safe — which we are a target — if we’re not collaborating with the White House and with our partners?”

Mamdani, who has built his campaign on opposing President Trump’s policies, quickly fired back.

His spokesperson, Dora Pekec, said the candidate “has made it crystal clear that while he will work with the federal government when it’s to the benefit of New Yorkers, he will never bow down to Trump’s authoritarian attacks.”

Earlier this week, Mamdani launched his “Five Boroughs Against Trump” rally tour, appearing in each borough to condemn the administration’s immigration enforcement.

In Staten Island, he addressed the crowd by highlighting the borough’s diversity: “As we gather on an island, where nearly 1 in 4 were born outside of this country, an island where 30% of its residents speak a language other than English, it’s an island that we know is not immune from this horrific crackdown.”

Mamdani wrapped up his tour Friday morning in Queens, delivering another jab the president.

“Today marks the fifth and final day in our Five Boroughs tour of this city, and standing up against the Trump administration’s vision and the way in which it mandates an attack on the very fabric of the city that we call home,” he told supporters.

Cuomo, meanwhile, lashed out at Mamdani over his housing arrangements, accusing the assemblyman of occupying a rent-controlled apartment despite being well-off.

“Somewhere last night in New York City, a single mother and her children slept at a homeless shelter because you, assemblyman, are occupying her rent controlled apartment,” Cuomo posted on X.

“We are in the middle of a historic affordability crisis,” Cuomo continued. “Millions of low income New Yorkers need this apartment and an apartment like it. Yet your apartment remains rented to rich people who don’t need it.”

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Clark Kelley

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