Drug Policy
Related: About this forumSan Francisco considers a measure to screen welfare recipients for addiction
Source: Associated Press
San Francisco considers a measure to screen welfare recipients for addiction
BY JANIE HAR
Updated 5:51 AM EST, February 5, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The Democratic mayor of San Francisco is pushing a pair of controversial public safety proposals on the March 5 ballot, including one that would require single adults on welfare be screened and treated for illegal drug addiction or else lose cash assistance.
Mayor London Breed also supports a ballot measure that would grant police more crime-fighting powers, such as the use of drones and surveillance cameras. In November, shell face cranky voters in a competitive reelection bid.
San Francisco is in a struggle to redefine itself after the pandemic left it in economic tatters and highlighted its longstanding problems with homelessness, drugs and property crime. Opponents say both ballot measures are wildly out of step with San Franciscos support for privacy and civil liberties and will only hurt the marginalized communities the city prides itself on helping.
But Breed, the first Black woman to lead San Francisco, said at a January campaign stop that residents from poorer, Black and immigrant neighborhoods are pleading for more police, and recovery advocates are demanding change as more than 800 people died of accidental overdose last year a record fueled by the abundance of cheap and potent fentanyl.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/san-francisco-london-breed-crime-drugs-fb5a1b4c7fd70c4fad55c174b0eb30f8
jimfields33
(18,433 posts)FBaggins
(27,441 posts)Are they turning the information over to law enforcement?
Blues Heron
(6,096 posts)intrepidity
(7,822 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,739 posts)What kind of testing can tell if someone is an occasional or even first-time user from someone who is addicted? And how do they define addiction?
People who work in that segment of medical science need to speak out on this.
Response to Eugene (Original post)
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