In San Francisco, a city grappling with a severe fentanyl crisis, Mayor London Breed has predominantly used law enforcement to address drug use. Now, city leaders, including Supervisor Matt Dorsey, are shifting to the “Cash Not Drugs” initiative, offering up to $100 weekly to welfare recipients who test negative for illicit drugs.
The program aims to support recovery and encourage a drug-free lifestyle by offering financial incentives instead of punitive measures. It targets members of the San Francisco County Adult Assistance Program, about a third of whom struggle with substance use disorders.
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Dorsey, a recovering addict, advocated for the program. He said it encourages sobriety through financial incentives rather than punitive measures.
“The humane and effective approach to San Francisco’s drug crisis should also include rewarding good behavior and not just punishing bad behavior,” Dorsey said.
Pending full approval from the Board of Supervisors, this initiative would start as a three-year pilot program managed by San Francisco’s Human Services Agency in collaboration with the Department of Public Health. The plan includes regular assessments by an independent organization to gauge the program’s effectiveness and report findings annually.
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
SAN FRANCISCO INTRODUCES $100 WEEKLY INCENTIVE FOR DRUG-FREE WELFARE PARTICIPANTS
SAN FRANCISCO CONTINUES TO BATTLE A SEVERE FENTANYL CRISIS. MAYOR LONDON BREED HAS PREDOMINANTLY ADDRESSED DRUG USE THROUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT CRACKDOWNS.
NOW, CITY LEADERS ARE TAKING A NEW APPROACH WITH WHAT THEY CALL THE “CASH NOT DRUGS” INITIATIVE, OFFERING UP TO $100 WEEKLY TO WELFARE RECIPIENTS TO STOP USING ILLICIT DRUGS.
THIS APPROACH AIMS TO NOT ONLY SUPPORT RECOVERY BUT ALSO ENCOURAGE A DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE.
CURRENTLY ABOUT A THIRD OF THE SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY ADULT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STRUGGLE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS. .
SAN FRANCISCO SUPERVISOR MATT DORSEY, A RECOVERING ADDICT, SAYS THE FUNDING SEEKS TO ENCOURAGE SOBRIETY THROUGH FINANCIAL INCENTIVES RATHER THAN PUNITIVE MEASURES.
MATT DORSEY
SUPERVISOR, SAN FRANCISCO
“The humane and effective approach to San Francisco’s drug crisis should also include rewarding good behavior and not just punishing bad behavior.”
IF THE FULL BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVES THE PLAN, IT WOULD LAUNCH AS A THREE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM WITH ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS TO GAUGE ITS EFFECTIVENESS.
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