Imagine standing on a street corner and trying to decide whether someone has a severe, moderate or mild substance use disorder, whether their medical condition is serious and likely to deteriorate, or whether their personal safety is so compromised that they are likely to die if they are not detained.
Such weighty decisions are usually the domain of trained medical professionals, but starting Jan. 1, rank-and-file law enforcement officers and other designated first responders must begin making these calls throughout San Diego County due to a new law that expands the definition of grave disability.
Standing before a group of mental health care professionals at the Psychiatric Hospital of San Diego County on a recent afternoon, attorney Mike Phillips explained the highly nuanced criteria of Senate Bill 43, the law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that many have said attempts to increase the number of unhoused residents placed under government conservatorship…