[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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